The greatest concern for urban planners worldwide is the rapid growth of cities, which outpaces infrastructure development, leading to uncontrolled influxes of private citizens into urban centers, as seen in Guadalajara, Mexico. This metropolis has experienced a staggering urban growth rate of 381.5 percent over 30 years, from 1980 to 2010.

In comparison, major cities around the world have seen population growth rates between 40 and 70 percent during the same period. This prompted the Ministry of Agriculture and Urban Planning to implement TOD (Transit Oriented Development) strategies to address the challenges faced by Guadalajara. They identified four key issues that needed to be resolved: 1. Dispersed development, as areas were developed in various directions without cohesive expansion; 2. Distant development, where areas were far apart and not developed together; 3. Lack of connectivity, with private developments located outside transit routes and roads not developed to support growth; 4. Uneven development, where areas were developed without clear planning, such as high-density residential areas on the outskirts while low-density areas were in the city center. These four issues were addressed through three main strategies:

1. Containing Urban Expansion through Light Rail Construction

Around 1980, Guadalajara had a dense population in the city center, with 300-400 people per 10,000 square meters, before expanding outward in an uncontrolled manner (Urban Sprawl). By 2010, high-density residential areas were found on the outskirts, despite infrastructure developments like roads and public transport not reaching these areas.

These issues arose from neglecting to guide private sector developments, as the government had not defined which areas should be developed and how, to ensure systematic urban growth. Urban planners in Guadalajara initiated a project to construct three light rail lines to connect the dispersed communities on the outskirts, establishing development guidelines around the rail stations based on TOD principles.

The three rail lines serve as the backbone of the city, directing future urban development efficiently. After completing the light rail lines, private developers began to align their projects along these routes, ensuring land development remained within designated areas and did not spread to unexpected locations or areas lacking infrastructure, as seen in the previous 30 years.

This approach effectively addressed the issues of dispersion, distance, and disconnection in the city.

 

2. Creating Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks to Reduce Pollution

Although Guadalajara has experienced dispersed growth over the past 30 years, this does not mean that unplanned urban growth cannot be improved.

Once the three light rail lines were established, the next goal was to make Guadalajara a pollution-free city by developing pedestrian and bicycle networks that connect various areas to public transport more easily.

This initiative addresses the issues of distance and disconnection, making public transport more accessible and encouraging citizens to walk or cycle to use public transport. Citizens do not feel that these changes require significant adjustments, and they can perceive improvements in transportation access to residential and work areas.

This approach has led to an increase in public transport usage in Guadalajara, reducing daily carbon dioxide emissions by 7.5 percent (as of 2015) compared to the period before implementing TOD strategies.

 

3. Changing Urban Development Regulations and Long-Term Planning

Common delays in urban development often stem from legal issues related to development and public resistance. However, in Guadalajara, the government has set the direction for development, leading to the rapid drafting of sustainable development regulations based on TOD principles.

Yet, overcoming public resistance to new development areas is not straightforward, as existing land cannot be easily transformed into new development zones. If the government attempts to do so, it may face opposition from citizens who have already invested in the land. Therefore, strict guidelines were established to ensure that remaining areas are developed cohesively, addressing issues of dispersion and unevenness while promoting a pollution-free city and encouraging public transport use.

Additionally, the development strategy included expanding the light rail lines, which were completed quickly, alongside creating pedestrian and bicycle networks, reducing resistance to land acquisition. Citizens feel that even if they are not within 600-1,000 meters of public transport stations, they can still choose to walk or cycle safely and conveniently.

As a result of these three strategies, public transport usage in 2018 reached approximately 32.75 percent daily, while personal car usage dropped below 23.75 percent, and 40 percent of trips were made by walking or cycling. The city continues to effectively accommodate population growth according to the planned development areas. This success has made the TOD development model around public transport stations in Guadalajara a reference for urban development in other cities in Mexico, demonstrating its practicality even for cities that previously experienced unplanned growth.

 

Thanks to information from SRT Asset Co., Ltd., www.sutp.org, www.mdpi.com