MetroBus: Going through a Sustainable Transport Network in Buenos Aires City Argentina September 2014 Mauro Magnetto Argentina E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction Bolivia Brazil Buenos Aires is the biggest city in Argentina, with Paraguay a population of about 3 million residents. The Chile Argentina Uruguay Buenos Aires but also by the 3 million people that enter the city traffic network is 1not. As aonly consequence, used by local the citizens,city suf-

each working day - fers large traffic congestions generating negative externalities such as higher levels of GHG emis sions, long travel times, major delays, discomfort and unproductivity. It is estimated that citizens on average spend 56 minutes to go or come back- Quick facts lingfrom per their trip place. of work. People that live outside Zone Buenos Aires City the capital spend2 on average 120 minutes trave Programme 2011 started In order to resolve this serious issue, the local- Topic Transport sustainability government implemented an integral Sustainable Implementing Mobility Plan, with the aims of reorganizing traf- Local Government Agency fic, making it safer, improving quality of life and reducing environmental impact. This program in volves a number of initiatives: MetroBus: Going through a Sustainable Transport Network in Buenos Aires City Argentina September 2014

per cent per cent or more3. As a - The creation of the MetroBus, the first Bus Rapid averageresult, the travel demand times for in MB key J.B routes Justo byis estimated about 20 to Transit System in the country. 40 , even up toper 50 cent since system con- - Implementation of articulated buses. ception. This rise is meaningful, as it shows the in- - TheExpansion launch of the Ecobikemetro system. Program and extension have increased by 25 of bike paths. footpaths. crease in the incentives for users to choose public- - Adoption Extension of of information pedestrian systems zones and and widening intelligent of transport in relation to private vehicles, and can thathave the important implementation effects in of reducing MB reduced carbon fuel emis con- sions of the latter. Governmentper cent sourcesb. indicate About traffic the management. Project sumption of MB buses by 20 - - a and one of the core programs of the stopsRegarding resulting security in issues,better security. designated Additionally, lanes per The MetroBus (MB) is a Bus Rapid Transit Sys mit driving in a straight line by minimizing abrupt- tem (BRT) Sustainable Mobility Plan. The system functions pregnantthe MB is womenmore inclusive to get on due board to better the buses. accessibil with traditional and articulated buses that drive ity. It’s easier for older persons, handicapped and in exclusively designated lanes in the center of the- Conclusion street, connected with elevated stations. Each MB- corridor is operated by a variety of bus lines. De - pending on the bus line, the trip can cover the en tire MB corridor or just one section. Although the MB Network is still under construc- tion and the impacts need to be analyzed in more- MB J.B Justo was the first line to be inaugurated- depth, there are signs that MB has had positive ef- in 2011, followed by MB 9 de Julio and MB Sur, in fects in relation to environment, time and trans 2013. Nowadays, the Network has 38.5 km of ex port efficiency. These results and the great po tension and is used daily by 600,000 people. transformtential of the Buenos system Aires can in helpa more in sustainableminimizing city.the negative externalities of traffic congestion, and By 2015, it’s projected that four new corridors will- - ersbe launched,3. and the MB will cover a total of 67 km, expanding service to another 1,200,000 daily us inThe comparison BRT networks with are other growing means fast such in Latin-Amer as the Met- Impacts and benefits ica as an alternative and cheaper way of transport, - ro or the Light Rail Transit system which require- bonbigger emissions investments. should In become spite of an this issue economic of concern. ad theIt is factdifficult that to it accurately has recently measure been thelaunched, real impact and vantage, the systems that use fuel buses and car- of the MB in the public transport network due to- For this reason the MB network should move for thatnew solines far, are the currently implementation being developed of MB has and reduced con intoward Eco-ones. by transforming the transport network to structed. However, the local government estimated more ecologically efficient by switching fuel buses

a

A BRT is a Bus Rapid Transport System implemented in a variety of countries. Due to the necessities and characteristics. of each city, each BRT hasb their own particularities. However, one of the main characteristics of the BRT system is the utilization of5 exclusive bus lanes with the aim of increasing the commercial speed and improving the reliability of travel time and the comfort of passengers With the implementation of MB, the stations between each other changed from 200mts to 400mts in distance. This has generated debates that question which is the real proportion of travel time that has been reduced by the MB system implementation. MetroBus: Going through a Sustainable Transport Network in Buenos Aires City Argentina September 2014

References - - Available at: http://cityclimateleadershipawards. com/buenos-aires-plan-for-sustainable-mobili The following documents informed the develop ty/. Retrieved 22/09/2014 ment of this paper: Ciudad de Buenos Aires, - MetroBus. [4] Plan de Movilidad Sustentable, Gobierno de la [1] Modelo territorial - Buenos Aires 2010-2060, Capitulo 2 ‘La ciudad Actual’. Subsecretaria de Available at: http://movilidad.buenosaires.gob. Planeamiento/Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano/- ar/metrobus/metrobus-9-de-julio/. Retrieved Gobierno Autónomo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires 22/09/2014 - (2011). Available at: http://www.ssplan.bueno saires.gov.ar/MODELO%20TERRITORIAL/2.%20 [5]CEPAL (2012) “Qué es un BRT, o la implemen Ciudad%20Actual/2_ciudad_actual.pdf. Retrieved tación del Metrobús en la ciudad de Buenos Aires, 23/09/2014 Argentina” Boletín FAL, Edition Nº 312, number 8,- Available at: http://www.cepal.org/transporte/ [2] Savia, Agustín (2007). “Ir y volver del trabajo, noticias/bolfall/2/48952/FAL-312-WEB.pdf. Re horas bajo la lupa”. Observatorio de la Deuda Social trievedPhotographic 23/09/2014 Source Argentina. Edición Impresa: Empleos La Nación, Domingo 14 de enero de 2007. Available at: http:// uca.edu.ar/uca/common/grupo32/files/07-01- - 14-la-nacion.pdf. Retrieved 23/09/2014 Edited from Ben Tavener. Photo available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bentaven [3]City Climate Leaders awards, ‘Buenos Aires: er/9518441548 Plan for Sustainable Mobility’.