The Context

Home to some 18 million people—and 6 million cars—Mexico City is one of the largest and most congested cities in the world. Even as the city has made huge strides to improve poor traffic conditions and air quality, gridlock and air pollution remain debilitating problems.

With over 600 new cars entering the city’s streets each day, the need for a solution is urgent. For some time now, officials in Mexico City have realized that the key to solving the twin problems of congestion and air pollution is getting people out of their cars and into mass transit. The question is how to promote mass transit that is safe, clean, convenient, and affordable so that more people will choose transit over private cars.