Mexico City: Low-cost intersection improvements

When we go somewhere new, and only for a short period, we only get a snapshot of that place. What we see is just a specific point in time. We can easily assume things have always been that way, or at least things have been that way for a long time.

We often don't get to see things in progress, or to witness change in a place that we are only just visiting for a while.

But when cities decide to use lower-cost interventions to improve their streets, we can more easily notice the recent changes.

In Mexico City, it is very evident when walking around that lots of changes have been made recently to the streetscapes to improve the experience for people walking and cycling.

Many of these changes have been made through a programme called 'Presupuesto Participativo' (Participatory Budget), which has been operating since at least 2011. This programme operates similarly to how the 'Innovating Streets' and later the 'Streets for People' functioned in New Zealand. As such, every year, 3% of the budget of local government in CDMX is put aside for this programme.

In this 'Presupuesto Participativo' programme, citizens can submit ideas to their council to improve their neighbourhoods under the following types of works:

• Works and Services
• Equipment
• Urban infrastructure
• Crime prevention
• Recreational activities
• Sports activities
• Cultural activities

At least two projects and up to 20 can be selected for each local council within the city each year. The list of projects is chosen through a process that involves community consultation and technical feasibility checks of the projects. Even the technical group for evaluating the projects is formed anew each year from those with the relevant experience in the community.

Below, I take a closer look at three intersection improvements in the Roma Norte suburb of Mexico City. What is worth noting about this area is that it is a highly mixed land use area with apartments, restaurants and cafes, mixed with a wide range of other businesses and activities such as laundromats, service stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, hairdressers, gyms, car parks and more.

Intersection of Puebla and Tampico, Roma Norte

Before

At this intersection in the before images below, you can see that...

• the turning radii for the corners were larger than necessary encouraging higher speeds
• the sight lines for crossing pedestrians would easily be blocked by parked vehicles increasing the risk of collisions, and
• the crossing points for pedestrians were somewhat cramped making it potentially less accessible for those pushing prams or carts, or using wheelchairs.

After

In the after photos, there is a huge improvement in the design of the intersection.

• The corners of the intersection have been built out to reduce turning radii and vehicle speeds, as well as improving the sightlines of and for crossing pedestrians.
• Solid barriers like bollards and concrete blocks have been installed to protect waiting pedestrians from errant vehicles and to prevent illegal parking on the footpaths.
• Some clutter has been removed from the footpaths making it more navegable for those with wheelchairs, prams or mobility issues.

What is also great is at the same time as making the intersection safer, they have also been able to add some planted areas to make the space more attractive.

Check out the intersection for yourself with this Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6sPgbgD2RfnAoH5W7

Cozumel and Sonora

Before

The intersection of Sonora and Cozumel back in 2019 was wide, unmarked, and had poor sightlines for pedestrians. The entrance into Cozumel did not encourage slow speeds and there was no clear space for pedestrians to cross. Cozumel is a small local road that is less than 600m long and would not see much traffic each day.

The bollards show that work had already been done to improve the intersection slightly, but more was left to be done.

After

Now, this intersection is much safer with

• large curb build-outs
• a raised table pedestrian crossing, and
• a series of bollards and raised planters to protect the pedestrian space

The intersection has been squared up slightly with the side road (Cozumel) now meeting the main road (Sonora) at a larger angle, forcing vehicles to slow down and while also improving sightlines for drivers to crossing pedestrians.

Access to two driveways has been maintained, and the driveways are paved differently with large concrete pavers, which help differentiate the space. I also like the use of bollards on either side of the driveways to prevent vehicles from using these driveways as a way to drive across or park on the footpath.

Although in the photo below, you can see that there are still issues with vehicles parking in the driveways, blocking some of the footpath space. However, fortunately, due to the width of the large footpath build-out, there is still significant space to navigate around the vehicle.

From above

In viewing the intersection and wider area from above, it is easy to see the difference the improvements have made. We see more pedestrian space, more defined vehicle space, and tighter turning radii for vehicles.

Check out the intersection for yourself with this Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HCAEdhLFuWXKzg1x6

Tonalá and Yucatán

Before

Back in 2017, the intersection of the tree-lined Avenida Yucatán with the side road of Tonalá didn't have any marked crossing points, and the intersection was much larger than necessary.

In the second 'BEFORE' image below, you can see a very narrow pram ramp for the pedestrian crossing, which is not even lined up with the other side of the crossing.

After

But now, the intersection has been greatly reduced in size, with marked crossing points for pedestrians, and raised planted areas. Again, the use of bollards to protect the crossing points for pedestrians is great to see.

And now, the whole widths of the pedestrian crossings are suitable for wheelchair users or those pushing prams or carts. As well as this, the grade of the ramps appear much flatter, reducing the effort required to navigate the curbs.

Even earlier

Interestingly, this isn't the first time this intersection has been redesigned in the past 10 years. It turns out that the design shown in the 2017 'BEFORE' photo was already an upgrade from the 2015 photos shown below.

Back in 2015, there was barely any space for pedestrians with such wide carriageways. In the second photo, you can see how crossing pedestrians had to be almost standing in the live traffic lane to know whether it was safe to cross, as there was no safe waiting space with good sightlines. The intersection is highly dominated by cars parked all around the intersection.

Check out the intersection for yourself with this Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/a4q9FdfEFtY5r8cMA

Summary

Our streets should never be finished. As culture, forms of transport, and needs change, we need to continually be making sure our streetscapes are up to standard.

When we visit somewhere for a short period, it is sometimes easy to accept that things have always been how we witness them. But by looking a bit harder at times and using Google Maps, you can notice the effort some cities are making to improve their streetscapes.

Mexico City is proving that this continuous improvement can be driven by the community, and make use of some lower-cost interventions to get changes happening faster.

As evidenced by the three intersections highlighted in my article, these changes are resulting in streets that are more:

• Pedestrian Prioritised: Intersections are being redesigned with wider footpaths, safer crossing points, and protection from traffic.
• Slower, Safer Streets: Clever design tweaks like reduced turning radii are naturally calming traffic speeds.
• Greener, More Livable Spaces: They're even incorporating planted areas to make things more beautiful!
• Community-Driven Change: This isn't top-down planning; it's about residents shaping their own neighbourhoods.

It's a fantastic example of how cities can evolve in real-time, driven by the needs and ideas of their communities.