Authorities analyze public transport financing models

The Executive Program ‘Public Transport Fundamentals for Authorities’ is addressing the complex challenge of financing urban mobility systems. Organized by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and the Mexican Association of Transport and Mobility (AMTM), with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank, the program aims to find sustainable ways to fund cities without placing the entire cost burden on users.

Diego Monraz, Secretary of Transport for Jalisco, emphasized that mobility policies should shift from measuring vehicle speed to evaluating how easily citizens can access daily activities. He argued that public transport should be viewed as a tool to improve quality of life and reduce inequality rather than just a passenger service.

Amado Crotte, a senior transport specialist at the IDB, highlighted the critical distinction between financing and funding. While financing provides resources for infrastructure and vehicle acquisition, funding ensures the ongoing revenue necessary to operate and maintain systems over time. Crotte noted that authorities require reliable data on costs, demand, and operational performance to design effective fare policies and subsidies.