Those who are not in the operation do not always understand the complexity of the system”. This lack of coordination has prevented the implementation of effective solutions in a context where urgent structural decisions are required. Uncertainty and lack of investment aggravate the crisis. To the problem is added the instability in the sector's rules, especially in concessions, which generates uncertainty and discourages new investments. Padilla criticized that changes in administration modify the conditions for operators: “It cannot be that one government invites to invest and the next one changes the rules. If this is not corrected, we will continue to lose users”. Gap between authorities and operators hinders solutions One of the main obstacles, he emphasized, is the disconnection between those who design public policies and those who operate the service daily. “There is an important distance between theory and practice. Legal certainty and long-term vision are needed”. Unsustainable financial model Public transport also faces an economic crisis derived from the imbalance between fares, subsidies, and operating costs. The increase in fuels, maintenance, and fleet renewal has not been compensated with adequate fares or sufficient support, compromising the service's viability. 17CIT will seek structural solutions This panorama will be one of the central axes of the International Transport Congress 17CIT, to be held from May 7 to 9 at the Jaime Torres Bodet Cultural Center of the National Polytechnic Institute. The meeting will bring together authorities, operators, and specialists to discuss the sector's structural challenges and propose concrete solutions. Mobility in Mexico City is going through a critical moment: currently there is one vehicle for every 1.4 inhabitants, a figure that reflects the uncontrolled growth of private transport and puts the public transport system against the ropes, warned Jesús Padilla. He also president of Grupo CISA and founder of the Mexican Association of Transport and Mobility pointed out that this trend is displacing public transport users and worsening traffic congestion in the capital. Vehicle boom jeopardizes mobility According to the analysis, there are around 6.4 million vehicles circulating in Mexico City, a figure that evidences the rapid advance of cars and motorcycles against a public transport that is losing competitiveness. This phenomenon contrasts with the high demand for the public system, which still concentrates 15.5 million of the 34.6 million daily trips, which confirms its strategic role, but also the enormous pressure it faces. “The increase in the vehicle fleet is a clear sign that public transport has not consolidated as the most reliable option”.
