Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones del Gobierno de Chile
The Pitch
By installing a new electric bus fleet with expanded routes, accessible design and added safety features, Chile’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications increased access to public transportation across communities in Santiago and reduced environmental pollution.
The Problem
Existing bus routes in Santiago failed to reach some neighborhoods, limiting residents’ access to public transit, isolating communities and exacerbating Santiago’s lack of planned urban connectivity. In addition, existing buses were often unsafe or inaccessible for vulnerable communities like women and people with mobility issues and emitted high levels of pollution that harmed residents’ health and the environment alike.
The Process
- Installed a new fleet of electric buses in Santiago equipped with security cameras, USB ports and Wi-Fi
- Addressed local input by not adding payment turnstiles on the fleet’s new e-buses—a previous barrier for people with mobility impairments
- Involved public and private entities in the fleet renewal process, incorporating the interests of the state, operating companies and bus and energy suppliers
- Created a new contract and bidding system that separates bus fleet supply and operation, improving system flexibility and financial sustainability
- Heightened competition between operators, lowered bus fares and improved quality of service by encouraging participation of national and international actors in the new contract and bidding system
- Institutionalized changes by creating a new brand, the “Metropolitan Mobility Network,” that uses a new standard of technological and accessibility requirements
The Impact
- Reaches 30 of Santiago’s 34 communities via operation in 60 of the city’s 380 bus routes, serving 2.7 million users
- Improved access to public transit and improved ease of use for residents with impaired mobility
- Increased a sense of safety for female riders via the addition of monitoring systems
- Improved mobility and access to different parts of the city for riders across all communities, enhancing inclusion
- Inspired development of more local sustainable mobility projects in nearby municipalities
