Buenos Aires
UMR Index
Score: 43.6%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 40.7%
Public Transit
Score: 53.8%
| Population | 16.1 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 3,437 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 4,684 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 9,619 |
What Buenos Aires Does Well in Urban Mobility
With affordable fares and a diverse selection of public transit modes to choose from, it is not surprising that Buenos Aires has some of the highest public transit ridership levels in the region. The creation of seven corridors of exclusive bus lanes over the last decade has reduced commuting times by as much as 50% and decreased carbon emissions.
The Argentine capital also has created more than 270 kilometers (168 miles) of bike lanes, and cycling accounted for just over 10% of all trips last year. This is a positive step to boost the cycling adoption among commuters.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
Challenges and Opportunities for Buenos Aires’ Transportation System
The city’s large surface area and low station density make it difficult to increase transit ridership, and plans to expand the Subte underground system with a new automated line remain stalled more than 20 years after it was authorized by the state government. The city has managed to extend some existing lines and add 14 new stations since 2010.
Buenos Aires lacks an extensive presence of top universities and labs working on mobility and is home to few mobility companies, contributing to a more muted mobility innovation ecosystem.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Buenos Aires Can Improve Its Public Transportation
Riders of Buenos Aires’ Metrobus often struggle with long commutes due to low transit speeds. To help close the gap with other cities, the city can continue to build dedicated bus lanes to help avoid traffic slowdowns. Adding bus lanes is an efficient and effective way to shorten travel times for commuters. In the long term, it can introduce automated trains to the Subte (Underground transit), which was reportedly part of the Line F expansion plan that was canceled in 2022.
Buenos Aires has a strong public transit system, but its large size means there are not enough stations throughout the city. To improve public transportation, more stops and stations could be added along the commuting lines. Expanding bus service would be a cost-effective option compared to building more rail stations. Increasing the number of stations will make public transit more accessible, encourage more people to use it, and reduce car usage. However, extending the Subte Underground network will require significant time and money.