A New Urban Paradigm
Land use is the single most important factor affecting every aspect of urban mobility. Photo by alejandro cartagena.
The Impact of Sustainable Urban Design:
The redesigned development plan is estimated to reduce traffic speeds by 34% and increase the demand for:
public transport
by 30% to 60%
bike trips
by 4% to 50%
walking trips
by 24% to 40%
green space
by 5% to 30%
The current pattern of urban development in Mexico too often promotes an unequal distribution of land: too many roads, not enough public spaces, and small homes in low-density areas.
But the pattern is fnally changing, thanks to new examples set by a partnership between CTS-México and Mexico’s biggest mortgage lender, the National Workers' Housing Fund Institute (INFONAVIT).
Specifcally, INFONAVIT connected CTS-México to the mid-sized city of Aguascalientes to transform a new low-income housing development, encompassing 10,000 houses for 40,000 people. CTS-México recommended solutions for mixed land use, public transportation, green spaces, and walking and bicycling.
In March 2010, the municipal government revised its development plans to include about 70 percent of CTS-México’s recommendations. The new design is expected to increase the neighborhood’s demand for public transportation, biking and walking. And the level of social interaction is expected to quadruple through the addition of four community centers and a 1.5-kilometer pedestrian-cyclist road. Dense development connected to mass transit can help reduce carbon emissions and lower urban infrastructure costs
Did You Know?
INFONAVIT fnances about 500,000 new homes in Mexico each year. For the frst time, the housing fund is applying sustainable transport principles in its land development, as a result of CTS-México’s capacity-building workshops and other guidance.
