After recently facilitating a seminar on land-use, transportation and housing for the Southern California Leadership Network focusing on the Gold Line Eastside extension last week, I’m paying extra attention to this issue here in Mexico City.  I have had the opportunity to ride Mexico City’s subway system and appreciated several things about it that Los Angeles could learn from.

An extensive system:  You can go just about anywhere on the subway in Mexico City.

Little wait time:  Trains here run on a very frequent schedule (I’ve had to wait less than three minutes each time).

Street vending at stations:  The public spaces immediately surrounding stations are full of people and life as vendors sell a variety of food and goods

Linkages to bus and bicycle transportation: The station I arrived at yesterday connected to a Rapid Bus Transit system, extending the reach of transit.  It also had bike racks and a free city-bikes.

Dense land-use around stations:  Mexico City is surprisingly dense, with lots of transit-oriented development around the stations.

Use of symbols at stations: I liked the maps on the train that gave each station a symbol, in addition to its name.

Affordable fares:  A one-way ticket costs 3 pesos (about 30 cents). Can’t beat that!

Today, I will learn more about sustainable transportation in Mexico City when I meet with a representative from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.