Medellín Shows the Future of Public Transport
A gathering of global mobility leaders
What happens when more than 400 public transport leaders come together in one of Latin America’s most innovative cities?
Organised by UITP Latin America together with Metro de Medellín, the UITP Latin America Forum 2025 from 11 to 14 November, 2025 brought experts from 26 countries to explore how public transport can drive sustainability, social inclusion and urban mobility transformation.
Opening the forum in Bogotá
The week began in Bogotá, a leading example of Latin America public transport innovation.
UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani and UITP Director of Latin America Dionisio González met with city authorities, operators and UITP members. Claudia Díaz, Secretary of Mobility of Bogotá, joined to open the UITP Metro Committee sessions. Leonidas Narváez, CEO of Metro de Bogotá, shared updates on the city’s flagship metro project. María Fernanda Ortiz Carrascal, CEO of Transmilenio and UITP Latin America Vice-Chair, took part in high-level dialogues with bus operators and mobility professionals. An exclusive technical visit to the integrated public transport system in Bogota was organised for more than 120 UITP members.
These exchanges set the stage for Medellín’s immersive programme and highlighted the region’s leadership in sustainable mobility.
Medellín: a city of transformation
Delegates then travelled to Medellín, internationally recognised for its urban and social transformation. Through technical visits, participants gained first-hand insight into the city’s public transport system and how it connects communities and supports mobility across the metropolitan area.
Delegates witnessed how Latin America public transport can connect underserved communities, improve quality of life, and advance social inclusion. The city’s multimodal approach offered a blueprint for sustainable mobility that other urban centres can learn from.
Cultura Metro: putting people first
The UITP Latin America Division, chaired by Marcio Hannas, opened thematic discussions. Tomás Elejalde, CEO of Metro de Medellín, dived into Cultura Metro. He showcased the social strategy behind the operator’s significant impact, highlighting how it shapes Medellín’s public transport and supports the city’s broader economic, social and environmental strategic goals.
UITP Latin American members reviewed the work of the various regional Platforms and Committees. And finally Buenos Aires was selected as host for 2026 edition!
Committee sessions: sharing knowledge across the region
Parallel committee sessions allowed delegates to dive deeper into specific topics. The Metro Division explored sustainability, resilience and workforce issues, including recruitment and retention of young professionals.
The Marketing Committee, in collaboration with the Latin America Division, examined passenger experience across Latin America public transport systems. Speakers from 12 countries discussed communication strategies, service quality, and evolving customer expectations.
The Cable Car Working Group focused on lessons from Medellín and Bogotá, highlighting how aerial cable systems can complement urban planning and multimodal networks, offering practical insights for other cities.
The sessions were also a chance to discuss the upcoming first World Public Transport Day, with attendees getting the latest updates and learning more about how they can take part in the celebration on 17 April.
The star conference: high-level insights
The Forum’s main conference took place in the Jardín Botánico de Medellín, surrounded by greenery. The setting reflected the Forum’s focus on environmental sustainability and social impact.
Mayor Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga addressed delegates, emphasising how mobility has been central to improving quality of life in Medellín. He highlighted that “calidad de vida” remains the guiding principle behind Metro de Medellín.
Global experts contributed across six sessions covering inclusivity, decarbonisation, funding and financing, workforce development, and long-term planning. Representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, CAF, UCCI and operators across Latin America shared insights on governance, modal integration, and building urban mobility systems that serve all citizens.
UITP and the Inter-American Development Bank launched the new flagship publication on Public Transport funding and financing in the LAC region.
The UITP Latin America Forum was also the opportunity for a number of announcements: UITP and UCCI launched the IBERbarometer, a state of the art report on urban mobility in the Region; UITP joined the LATAM Observatory of Gender and Mobility; UITP, Metro de Medellin and Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana signed an agreement to collaborate on urban rail capacity building programmes and the UITP – ALAMYS Memorandum of Understanding was renewed.
Closing reflections and looking ahead
UITP President Gautier Brodeo closed the Forum by highlighting Medellín’s remarkable achievements. He reminded delegates that every city can learn from Latin America public transport initiatives. His words captured the spirit of the Forum: knowledge exchange, shared learning, and global collaboration.
