Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach
This paper discusses WRI’s experience working in Mexico City to understand the results of its deep engagement work in the city, starting as the Center for Sustainable Transportation (Centro de Transporte Sustentable) in 2002, and its evolution to CTS-EMBARQ in 2011 and WRI Mexico in 2016. It discusses Metrobús as a catalytic project, institutional changes to build on the understanding, relationships and trust established in that project, and resulting city-level transformative change.
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities has a long-standing presence in Mexico City and has been a key change agent for sustainable development. WRI Ross Center’s long-term engagement across multiple sectors in Mexico City makes it one of the organization’s “deep dive” urban geographies. The main objective of this document is to understand the results of this “deep dive” approach in Mexico City by documenting and evaluating lessons learned over the years.
Learning from past successes and failures and documenting the experiences and outcomes of projects undertaken in cities is essential for catalyzing the kind of city-wide change that WRI Ross Center aspires to. To this end, we used a mixed-methods approach to analyze WRI Ross Center’s influence in Mexico City and the effectiveness of its deep dive approach there (starting with its origins as the Center for Sustainable Transportation–CTS).
Key Findings:
- We found that WRI Mexico’s technical expertise combined with understanding of the political landscape was integral to the success of Mexico City’s implementation of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Metrobús, in 2006. This paper outlines WRI Ross Center’s role in this project and finds that the organization helped contribute to transformative change in the city’s transportation network.
- Global projects such as the Building Efficiency Accelerator (which focuses on Mexico City) that involved deep collaboration across WRI’s matrix (international offices, programs and centers) and other institutions have allowed for WRI Ross Center to broaden and build its technical expertise in sectors such as building efficiency.
- Three success factors for sparking the kind of change WRI Ross Center has seen in Mexico City’s transportation sector and beyond include: a relationship of trust with city officials; a deep understanding of the political and institutional ecosystem of the city; and flexibility of funding and institutional structure to encourage innovation.
Projects
Deep Dive Cities
Visit ProjectDriving transformative change through long-term, cross-sectoral, data-driven engagement in cities to create a healthier, more resilient and sustainable urban environment for all.
Part of CitiesUrban Development
Visit ProjectCreating livable neighborhoods that build resilience, improve health, and equitably connect people and opportunities.
Part of CitiesUrban Mobility
Visit ProjectImproving quality of life, health and opportunity in cities through sustainable and safe transport and urban design.
Part of CitiesUrban Efficiency & Climate
Visit ProjectHelping cities adopt an integrated approach to improve the built environment, clean the air and tackle climate change.
Part of Cities