Skip to main content

Latin America projected to invest in metro systems

Latin American countries are expected to invest some US$40 billion in metro projects by 2025, according to a report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). "In total, they will build or expand more than US$40bn in 20 projects," stated the report entitled Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025. The report, Latin America and the Caribbean 2015, indicates that some of the projects include construction of line 3 and line 6 in Chilean capital Santiago's subway, expansion of Brazil's São Paulo met
April 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Latin American countries are expected to invest some US$40 billion in metro projects by 2025, according to a report from the 5982 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

"In total, they will build or expand more than US$40bn in 20 projects," stated the report entitled Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025.

The report, Latin America and the Caribbean 2015, indicates that some of the projects include construction of line 3 and line 6 in Chilean capital Santiago's subway, expansion of Brazil's São Paulo metro line 2, construction of line 2 of Panama City's metro, expansion of Argentina's Buenos Aires line H, expansion of Mexico City's line 12 and construction of phase II of Ecuador capital Quito's US$15 billion subway project.

Aside from metro systems, the IDB expects a large-scale roll out of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems across the region. Some 60 cities in the region currently have BRT systems but this number is expected to "grow even more," to include emerging and intermediate cities.

The prevalence of non-motorised transport arrangements such as bicycle sharing or self-service systems are also expected to rise sharply by 2025.

The Mexico City Ecobici system currently reports some 30,000 journeys each day and 17 cities in the region are planning to introduce similar systems.

While public transport systems are expected to increase, so is the use of the car. The IDB predicts that Latin American cities will have roughly 140 million cars in 2025, an increase of 80 million from 2010.

Related Content

  • March 1, 2012
    Latin NCAP launched
    The launch of Latin NCAP has taken place simultaneously in Montevideo, Uruguay and São Paolo, Brazil with the new association releasing test results of nine cars from the popular small vehicle class using the same frontal impact test that is included in Euro NCAP’s test programme. The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), FIA Foundation, ICRT (International Consumer Research and Testing) and GRMF (the Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation) with support of the IDB (the Inter-American Developmen
  • November 7, 2014
    Chile launches ambitious transport plan
    In an effort to boost a weakening economy, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has announced a nearly US$4.2 billion transport infrastructure plan, including one new metro line in Santiago, cable car systems in three other cities and rail projects. The plan includes US$1.9 billion in new concessions, with the expansion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to the metro system and US$2.2 billion in works directly funded by the government. In Santiago, the program involves developing feasibility studie
  • February 2, 2012
    Carbon finance delivers critical support to mass transit schemes
    David Crawford investigates carbon finance in transport. World Bank carbon finance grants are delivering critical support to major mass transit deployments in emerging and developing economies. Only recently operative in the transport sector, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM, see panel) is designed to generate additional income streams and improve internal rates of return on projects funded from public- and private-sector sources.
  • December 11, 2014
    Peru lands second metro loan
    Peru has secured additional funding for its US$5.8 billion Lima metro line No.2 project, which is due to be completed by 2020. Just a day after receiving a US$750 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Caracas-based lender CAF agreed to lend a further US$150 million, the third loan it has granted the initiative. "This approval complements the support CAF has been providing Peru in the search for urban transport solutions," CAF president Enrique García said in the statement. The L