Background

Many public transportation options in border communities are inefficient, uncomfortable and unsafe, and they do not provide a comprehensive solution for urban mobility, generating a vicious cycle of increased usage of personal vehicles and less demand for public transportation. Dependence on personal vehicles and the low penetration of efficient public transportation systems lead to air pollution, noise and traffic congestion, thus reducing the overall quality of life of residents.

The Agua Caliente Corridor extends approximately 10.5 miles and is defined as the northwest-southeast transportation route serving a large portion of Tijuana’s population. It is a critical arterial route providing transportation to commercial areas, workplaces, residential areas, schools and recreational areas, as well as giving access to other secondary routes. Its service area spans an estimated 165 neighborhoods, with 138,486 potential users, which represents a high vehicular flow in the region.

The Agua Caliente route is operated by two main providers; however, there are more than 430 permit owners and 509 vehicles to meet public transit needs. The public transportation service is provided mainly by buses, vans and compact and mid-size cars, available from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The coexistence of service providers has generated inconsistencies in route schedules, a saturation of inefficient vehicles, a disregard for traffic rules and a growing risk of road accidents, among other problems. Users have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the quality of the public transportation service in the Agua Caliente Corridor, in particular its unreliability and unsafe conditions.

In September 2023, to improve public transportation services in the Agua Caliente Corridor, the state government amended the concession for public transportation service along the corridor. Under the new concession, current service providers will be relocated from the corridor to secondary routes that connect the outer neighborhoods of Tijuana to the Agua Caliente Corridor, providing a more orderly and accessible service. The new concessionaire also plans to employ a fleet of new vehicles that offers a higher capacity, safer and more efficient passenger transportation option, increasing service confidence and improving the experience of the riders.

Description

The project consists of financing the acquisition of 39 diesel 2024 Euro-VI model buses and five electric buses, along with the related charging infrastructure. The buses purchased through the Project are expected to provide nearly seven round trips of the route each day serving approximately 37,700 passengers. Some of the new buses will be assigned for use as part of the subsidized Violet Transportation Program to provide a more secure service at no cost to women and children.

The project also includes the acquisition of modern payment technology to establish a centralized payment processing system that will improve control, reduce losses and allow for future integration with other branches of the system. New surveillance equipment will improve security for passengers with the incorporation of video cameras and monitoring of the buses via satellite in a centralized system.

Benefits

The project will improve and modernize the public transportation system through the acquisition of buses that use cleaner technologies, provide a higher passenger capacity, and offer a safe, fast and accessible transportation option for existing demand along the Agua Caliente Corridor. Likewise, the project will promote increased use of public transportation by providing a more accessible and reliable service supported by formal bus stops and schedules, enhanced security for passengers and a more user-friendly and transparent payment processing system. At the same time, the new system is expected to reduce emissions related to vehicle operation and urban congestion. Compared to the previous vehicle fleet operating in the Agua Caliente corridor and in proportion to the buses to be financed directly by NADBank, the Project is expected to displace the emission of an estimated 2,000 metric tons/year of carbon dioxide (CO2), 10.5 metric tons/year of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 152 kilograms/year of particulate matter (PM).