ABSTRACT
High traffic congestion and travel times in the cities of Latin America and the Caribbean have significant impacts on air quality, population health, and well-being. To address these challenges, policy and infrastructure innovations have been proposed and implemented over recent decades. This chapter reviews the current state of mobility and accessibility in the region, with special attention to innovative practices and their impacts on accessibility, especially for low-income populations. Specifically, bus rapid transit and aerial tram infrastructure as well as policy innovations such as vehicle circulation bans and Sunday Streets programs are reviewed. Although each innovation has a different degree of success, providing access in an environmentally friendly and equitable way remains elusive. Furthermore, access disparities raise questions about the design and operations of innovations such as BRT and bicycle infrastructure, underscoring the lasting and multidimensional impact of segregation in Latin American and Caribbean cities. These innovations notwithstanding, policies need to acknowledge and address how mobility and land development are inextricably connected. Furthermore, they should account for a fuller picture of mobility and user needs, one in which most residents still use different forms of public transportation that operate in mixed traffic and compete for urban space with other motor vehicles as well as active travelers.
