Acquisition of units and details of the new route
The Electric Transport Service (STE) of Mexico City has formally begun the acquisition process of 18 new trolleybus units. This public procurement procedure, published in the Official Gazette of the capital, aims to renew and expand the electric public transport fleet. The tendered units are simple type, with a standard length of 12 meters, and are specifically intended to operate on the so-called route 14. This line will constitute a vital connection corridor between University City, an academic and busy hub, and the Huipulco Modal Transfer Center (Cetram), a key multimodal node in the south of the city. The resolution of the bidding process is scheduled for December 23, setting the schedule for the next phase of implementation.
Investment, infrastructure and impact on metropolitan mobility
This mobility project is part of a comprehensive strategy to modernize the transportation system in the face of large-scale events, such as the 2026 World Cup. The Mobility Secretariat (Semovi) has detailed that the global investment for the launch of this route amounts to 635 million pesos. This amount is broken down into two main components: the acquisition of the electric vehicles and the construction of the necessary support infrastructure. The civil works, which include the installation of the catenary (aerial wiring) and road improvements, have been awarded to the national firm Elite Engineering, with a contract for 157 million pesos.
The new line will have an extension of 13.2 kilometers and an estimated travel time of 33 minutes, which promises an efficient and predictable travel alternative for users. From a technical and urban planning perspective, the route will not only improve connectivity between two points of high demand, but will also serve as a sustainable transportation axis, reducing polluting emissions and vehicle congestion. Its operation will be crucial to absorb and effectively distribute the massive influx of visitors anticipated during the World Cup 2026, contributing to the resilience of the metropolis’s mobility system.
The decision to invest in trolleybus technology reinforces the commitment to a low-emission collective transportation model. Unlike other alternatives, trolleybuses offer the advantage of pure electric traction—zero local emissions—combined with the ability to operate on shared or dedicated lanes. The execution of this project demonstrates an analytical approach that prioritizes medium-capacity mobility solutions, complementary to the metro and metrobus, to optimize the public transportation network. The correct implementation of the infrastructure by the contracting company is a determining factor to guarantee the reliability, punctuality and safety of the service from its inauguration.
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