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.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A fresh approach to electronic fee collection
    July 16, 2012
    The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is pioneering fresh approaches to Electronic Fee Collection (EFC) deployment in the US. Its new system, operational since January 2009 on all buses and commuter trains, is the country's first full-network rollout of transit e-ticketing technology built on an open-payment network, according to the organisation's Technology Programme Development Manager Craig Roberts.
  • The Asia-Pacific poses a multitude of ITS challenges
    May 30, 2014
    The Asia-Pacific ITS Forum and Exhibition in Auckland, New Zealand, provided a focus for the region’s ITS Associations. Mary Bell reports. In late April, ITS New Zealand hosted the 13th Asia-Pacific ITS Forum and Exhibition in Auckland. Around 350 delegates from 24 nations gathered to share and advance ITS applications on both strategic and technical levels and to discuss the differing and various challenges faced in the region.
  • Abu Dhabi unveils new public transport plan
    March 29, 2012
    The new public transport plan for Abu Dhabi in the UAE will consist of bus rapid transit (BRT) and two light-rail tram lines, while the planned 130-km railway network has been shortened to 70-km, according to the department of transport (DoT). The first phase of the metro railway is expected to operate by 2020 and it will cover 18km. The metro trains will travel at 80 to 100 km per hour. There will be two light railway lines that cover 40km that will travel at an average speed of 20 km per hour and the BRT
  • Brazil invests in Curitiba mobility
    November 1, 2013
    The Brazilian government is to invest US$1.46 billion in the construction of the metro project in Curitiba, Parana, as part of the accelerated growth program for mobility, bringing the total investment in transportation to US$2.4 billion. The city will also receive US$408 million to expand the bus rapid transit system by an additional 32 kilometres, plus US$87 million for the construction of bus lanes and further bus rapid transit expansion projects.