Seven Steps for Creating Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans across Brazil

In 2012, President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil passed legislation that required cities with more than 20,000 residents to incorporate urban mobility planning in their greater development plans in order to receive federal development funding. Known as the National Policy on Urban Mobility, this legislation established principles, guidelines and tools to guide cities in creating urban mobility plans. Given that approximately 3,065 cities across the country are affected by the law, this change is a major milestone for sustainable urban mobility in Brazil.

To assist Brazilian cities in creating effective mobility plans, WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil has launched a new manual called Seven Steps – How to Build an Urban Mobility Plan. The practical manual outlines a set of seven steps for how cities can incorporate the National Policy on Urban Mobility’s core requirements into local development plans. The guide also emphasizes the need for public participation and institutional incentives to ensure that mobility planning is properly integrated into development planning.

Inviting Public Participation to Address Local Mobility Needs

The National Policy on Urban Mobility encourages cities to integrate different modes of transport, prioritize public transit and non-motorized transport, and give particular attention to issues of equity in public spaces and public participation. The methodology, developed by WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil specifies seven steps—from preparation to evaluation and revision—for how cities can translate this broad vision into a concrete urban mobility plan. This framework has already been adopted by Brazil’s Ministry of Cities in the federal government’s capacity building trainings and in its main manual to guide mobility plans development all over the country.

In developing the manual, WRI Brasil |EMBARQ Brasil experts analyzed various methodologies and identified national best practices for developing mobility plans that are sensitive to local needs. For example, cities from greater Florianópolis have organized approximately 50 events that invite public participation in the mobility planning process. The manual notes that these events have helped the city establish priorities based on local mobility needs.

The manual also examines how Joinville, the third largest city in Brazil’s southern region, is working to ensure that every residents can access public spaces within 15 minutes of walking. Rio Branco has a strong culture of non-motorized transport and the Master Plan of Transit and Transport has the goal of implement 160 km of bicycle paths.

 Summarizing the purpose of the manual, Nívea Oppermann, Urban Development Director of EMBARQ Brasil, commented, “We want municipal governments to develop a comprehensive process for reflecting on the kinds of cities we want in the future. Based on this vision of the future—one of equity and access to public transport and public space—we need to scale our work, set goals and map out effective mobility plans.”

Mobility Planning in the Global Conversation

Seven Steps – How to Build an Urban Mobility Plan will be featured on the panel “Urban Mobility Plans”, on September 10^th in Rio de Janeiro, during the Cities & Transport International Congress. The event, organized by WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil, will convene city officials, business leaders, NGOs and civil society to discuss pressing issues related to sustainable cities, such as governance, transport, road safety, climate change and more.

On September 9^th, WRI Brasil | EMBARQ Brasil will also hold the Mayors’ Summit, which will bring together leaders who have transformed their cities into more sustainable communities. Ken Livingstone (London/ENG), Enrique Peñalosa (Bogotá/COL), Mary Jane Ortega (San Fernando/PHI), Jaime Lerner (Curitiba/BRA) and Sam Adams (Portland/USA) will take part in the Summit, a closed event for 300 Brazilian Mayors and city officials.

Stay connected: cidadesetransportes.org  | #CTBR2015

Click here to read the report (in Portuguese) and learn more.

About EMBARQ at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

EMBARQ, Sustainable Urban Mobility by WRI, catalyzes and helps implement environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable urban mobility solutions to improve quality of life in cities.