Mexico City’s government has announced the construction of five new cable-car — known locally as Cablebús — lines. The goal is to optimize public transit in the Western Hemisphere’s largest city and to fight the traffic it has become infamous for.
The Cablebús transport system, which began operating in July 2021, has established itself as a daily option for tens of thousands of commuters.
The head of CDMX’s government, Clara Brugada, announced that in the coming year, resources will be allocated to expanding the Cablebús transit network. Five new routes will be built, covering eight underserved boroughs: Tlalpan–Coyoacán, Magdalena Contreras, Álvaro Obregón, Milpa, Alta–Tláhuac, Cuajimalpa, and Xochimilco.
Once these upgrades to the Cablebús network are complete, Mexico City will be home to the largest cable car network in the world.
The ambitious infrastructure project also includes connections with bus and subway lines, as well as light rail and electric trams.
The expanded Cablebús network addresses a key challenge in urban planning: connecting neighborhoods that conventional rail or road networks have historically underserved due to complex topography.
For example, areas like the southern boroughs of Milpa Alta and Xochimilco, known for their canals and rural landscapes, have long faced connectivity issues. The cable car offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to carving expensive roads or tunnels through such terrain.
The benefits of the Cablebús over traditional public transit include speed and safety, as each Cablebús accommodates 8 passengers and has police officers at every stop, making the risk of muggings or assault negligible.
This is something that cannot be said of the fleet of passenger vans that travel to CDMX from surrounding communities and can take several hours to reach their destinations as they navigate some of the most dangerous highways and streets in the country.
The ambition to become the world’s largest network is notable. According to a 2021 report by the International Association of Public Transport, urban cable car systems are seeing a global renaissance, with Latin America being a particular hotspot.
Cities like La Paz in Bolivia and Medellín in Colombia have pioneered the use of cable cars as integral parts of their public transit, successfully improving access for residents in informal settlements perched on hillsides. Mexico City’s project, however, is on a different scale in terms of the population it aims to serve within a single urban agglomeration.
While Medellín’s famous Metrocable has about half a dozen lines, Mexico City’s plan for a total of eight lines (three existing plus five new) would represent one of the most extensive and interconnected systems globally.
The expansion of the Cablebús network also promises secondary positive impacts. For example, a study of the effects of the Cablebús network on CDMX’s Line 1 Subway found that the cut in subway crowding alone has already cut travel time for residents of Cuautepec by up to an hour for a round trip, a life-changing improvement for daily commuters.
Furthermore, by providing a reliable and efficient public service, the system can foster greater social inclusion, linking marginalized communities to economic opportunities, healthcare, and education in the city center. And as an electrically powered system, the Cablebús network helps reduce air pollution caused by traffic congestion, a serious concern throughout the Valley of Mexico.
However, such an ambitious project is not without its challenges and criticisms. The initial construction costs are high, and securing funding and navigating the complex urban landscape will be a significant test for the administration.
There are also concerns about the long-term maintenance costs and ensuring the system’s operational resilience. Some urban planners caution that while cable cars are excellent for specific point-to-point connections, they must be perfectly integrated with other transit modes, such as the Metro, buses, and trolleybuses, to form a cohesive network and avoid becoming isolated novelties.
Nevertheless, public reception of the news has been positive. For residents in the newly designated boroughs, the promise of the Cablebús represents hope for a less grueling daily commute and better access to the city. The sight of the bright red and white cabins gliding silently over the sprawling cityscape has become a symbol of modern, progressive urban planning for Mexico City.
The Cablebús has also become somewhat of a tourism attraction, especially on its Chapultec line, which offers stunning views of the city.