The Context

Arequipa, sitting under the shadow of Peru's snow-capped volcano El Misti, has earned the nickname "The White City," for its glistening cream-colored buildings made of volcanic stone. The second largest city in the country - with just over one million inhabitants - is also the commercial and agricultural hub of southern Peru.

EMBARQ is working closely with Arequipa to develop a transport plan for the city and revitalize its historic downtown, a United Nations World Heritage Site. Arequipa’s transport plan calls for a 15-kilometer bus rapid transit corridor to make more of the city accessible to the growing population. Currently people in Arequipa suffer from increasing levels of air pollution and high travel times. In many cases it takes residents up to 2 to 3 hours to reach their destinations.