The economic growth, tourism and social welfare that Medellin is experiencing goes hand in hand with public policies that allow the development of its commitment to be an eco-city. In this sense, the Secretary of Mobility of Medellín is a key player in the development of the aforementioned areas.
One of the most important milestones in this area occurred at the C40 Summit of Governors in 2022, when the Mayor’s Office signed Decree 2035, which will establish mechanisms for intelligent and sustainable mobility in the city and a less polluted environment.
The document highlights that as of 2035, the circulation of gasoline-powered vehicles that begin to be manufactured as of the aforementioned year will be banned. This initiative seeks to encourage the use of automobiles and means of transportation with zero direct emissions of particulate matter into the environment.
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Upcoming Projects
The Secretary of Mobility of Medellín has several projects in the pipeline, with the objective of continuing to lead sustainable forms of transportation. The agency is currently developing an electric cab project, which aims to incorporate electrified cars to reduce CO2 emissions.
The plan contemplates that the owner will have two cabs operating: one electric and one traditional combustion for three years.
The vehicle will be exempted from the license plate and speed limit and will have an intelligent driving system that allows savings of up to 65% compared to a gasoline combustion car with less weight and less power.
In addition, the Secretary of Mobility of Medellín estimates that the cabs will save close to 40% in maintenance compared to fossil fuel cars.
It should be noted that the autonomy of the cars ranges between 180 and 350 kilometers, depending on the brand, topography and driving mode.
The plan has 18 public charging stations available in the District of Medellín and more than 40 chargers in the Metropolitan Area, with the capacity to serve up to 5,000 electric vehicles.
ZUAP Project
The Urban Air Protected Zone (ZUPA) is a project of the Science, Technology and Innovation District of Medellin and its Metropolitan Area, which aims to reduce polluting emissions in a polygon in the center of Medellin.
The Secretary of Mobility of Medellin details that they are working on the optimization of 120 transportation routes within the defined polygon, in which a reduction of kilometers traveled is sought, guaranteeing viability and economic profitability to the transportation guild, while users will be able to count on a good service.
Escalators
This project began in 2011 and was designed to solve the transportation difficulties of the inhabitants of the half-slope of the Independencias neighborhood, who had to climb 320 sandbag stairs to reach their homes.
Through the execution of different inter-administrative contracts with transportation terminals, the Secretary of Mobility of Medellín has been able to maintain and keep the escalator system in operation in Commune 13 in an uninterrupted manner, benefiting its inhabitants.
The energy system with which the escalators in Commune 13 operate was recently renewed with the installation of 56 solar panels that replace 21% of the energy used and will reduce more than 6.95 tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to planting 25 trees or taking 7 vehicles out of circulation per year.
Mobility corridors
In this area, the Secretary of Mobility of Medellin is working on a project linked to the master plan for the expansion of the Metro system, which aims to plan urban mobility corridors, including the five desire lines: Poblado – Tesoro (Loma Los Parra), Tricentenario – Aldea Pablo VI, Caribe – Aures, Caribe – La Cruz – Oriente and La Estrella – San Antonio de Prado, the latter being the one prioritized.
The Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area, the Mayor’s Office of Medellín (represented by the Secretary of Mobility of Medellin) and the company Metro are participating in the development of this project.
The Secretary of Mobility of Medellin participates as guarantor and observer of the process, providing personnel to monitor the program, which has already made progress in the technical justification of the identification of these corridors as potential for mass transit.
In addition, Medellin has among its major project the ECOCIUDAD Line, which seeks to have a mobility program with cleaner technologies and new trends. Likewise, one of the goals is to have a sustainable and intelligent mobility component to promote initiatives that accelerate the energy transition in transportation.
Participation in “Latam Mobility: Colombia 2023”
On June 6 and 7, Latam Mobility, the leading community in promoting sustainable mobility in Latin America will hold the “Latam Mobility: Colombia 2023“.
The Secretary of Mobility of Medellin will participate in this meeting where the most important companies linked to energy, transportation, fuels and mobility will converge to show the progress and prospects of the industry in the Caribbean country and the region.
