Public transport in Mexico has ceased to be attractive to investors, jeopardizing the sustainability and modernization of the system, warned Jesús Padilla, president of Grupo CISA. He pointed out that the sector faces a structural deterioration that requires urgent attention. «Major players are losing interest in the sector. Without clear financing mechanisms, companies are not viable». Padilla added that in many cases, public investments are not aligned with actual operations, which prevents the correction of structural flaws in the mobility system. Governance: Key to restoring confidence. The president of Grupo CISA indicated that this crisis is closely linked to the need to strengthen public transport governance as the axis that articulates policies, investments, and operations. He stated that without an authority capable of generating certainty, coordinating actors, and establishing clear long-term rules, it will be impossible to regain investor confidence and guarantee the system's viability. Furthermore, he warned that the sector faces an integral problem that includes the rapid growth of the vehicle fleet, urban congestion, decreasing operational efficiency, the gap between policy design and daily operations, and the lack of stable conditions regarding concessions. Debate at the 17th International Transport Congress. These issues will be addressed at the International Transport Congress 2026, particularly in the panel «Governance that transforms: the new role of the authority in public transport,» to be moderated by Jesús Padilla. The event will take place from May 7 to 9 at the Jaime Torres Bodet Cultural Center, where mobility secretaries, public policy experts, academics, and sector leaders will gather. Attending the 17th CIT represents an opportunity to access a comprehensive, up-to-date, and high-level vision of the challenges and solutions that will mark the future of public transport in Mexico. «This has to do with risks, conflicts, lack of governance, and absence of certainty,» he affirmed. The businessman emphasized that even transport operators who had bet on high-quality service models are retreating due to the lack of legal and financial conditions. «Today, there is no appetite for new participants. The sector is closing in on current operators, and that limits the capacity for growth and modernization,» he pointed out. Lack of financing and an unsustainable model. In this context, he explained that the underlying problem lies in an economic model that is not sustainable, mainly due to the lack of balance between fares, subsidies, and operational costs. «Subsidies continue to be an uncomfortable topic for many governments, but they are a reality in any transport system in the world. Some have already left major cities, and others are reconsidering their presence. The event will be free, with prior registration».
