News
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Experts from the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities explore “common challenges and shared solutions” for sustainable, livable cities
The city-state of Singapore played host to the 2014 World Cities Summit, which saw over 120 mayors convene to discuss common challenges and solutions for making cities more livable and sustainable. Photo by Nicolas Lannuzel/Flickr.
The decisions that city leaders make today will impact the lives of billions of urbanites for decades to come. Not only are cities home to half the world’s population – with that figure set to increase to 70% by 2050 – but the long life of urban infrastructure for basic services like water, energy, and transport means that the next decade is crucial for putting cities on the path to sustainable growth.
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EMBARQ India leads knowledge sharing initiative to advance sustainable transport and urban development in India
India's rapid urban growth has posed many challenges for planners and city leaders, like how to provide safe, sustainable mobility to the elderly. These women ride one of Mumbai's auto-rickshaws. Photo by Benoit Colin/EMBARQ.
India is home to one of the fastest growing urban populations in the world. Indian cities are expected to grow from 340 million in 2008 to 590 million people in 2030, and with that growth comes significant challenges for the country’s city planners and leaders.
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EMBARQ Mexico and the World Bank lead training course on sustainable urban mobility planning for Mexico City
Some of Mexico City's greatest accomplishments in sustainable mobility, like the Ecobici public bike-share system, were on display during the month-long Leaders in Urban Transport Planning (LUTP) training course. Photo by Justin Swan/Flickr.
For the second consecutive year, the World Bank and EMBARQ Mexico led a training program for Leaders in Urban Transport Planning (LUTP) in Mexico City, Mexico. The training provided tools for urban planners and policymakers to develops systematic strategies around integrated urban mobility planning.
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System adjustments can improve efficiency and operations as BRT booms in Chinese cities
Jinan is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and with that urbanization comes the need for urban transport options to serve the city's growing population. EMBARQ China is helping the city refine its bus rapid transit (BRT) system to create a viable, sustainable alternative to the private car. Photo by PoTalin Wu/Flickr.
In the past five years, China has become the world’s fastest growing market for bus rapid transit (BRT). Today there are 17 BRT systems in China that serve 2.3 million people – the majority of these were built after 2008. Furthermore, China aims to build a total of 5,000 km of BRT by 2020, a fivefold increase form today.
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MOVE Antônio Carlos is expected to carry 400,000 passengers each day
MOVE Antônio Carlos, the second of three (bus rapid transit) BRT corridors coming to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, has begun operations. Photo by Luísa Zottis/EMBARQ Brazil.
Less than two months after launching its first bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor, the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte has begun operations on its second: MOVE Antônio Carlos. The corridor is already serving 77,000 passengers per day.
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Rio’s newest BRT corridor is expected to serve 450,000 passengers each day
Rio de Janeiro's new TransCarioca bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor will connect the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood to the Tom Jobim International Airport, and is expected to carry 450,000 passengers per day once fully operational. Photo by Blog do Planalto/Flickr.
Rio de Janeiro’s newest bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor, the TransCarioca, began operations on Sunday June 1, 2014. This newest addition to Rio’s already well-developed BRT network will connect the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood to the Tom Jobim International Airport. President Dilma Rousseff and Mayor Eduardo Paes, also chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, were in attendance at the grand opening to show their support for the positive impact the new corridor will have on the city.
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Building on the work of EMBARQ, WRI introduces broader cities initiative to catalyze environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable urban areas
The newly launched WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities will build on the work of EMBARQ – the sustainable urban mobility stream of the Center – to create healthy, accessible, and environmentally-friendly communities. Photo by Christian Haugen/Flickr.
EMBARQ, the sustainable transport and urban development program of the World Resources Institute (WRI), is pleased to announce the launch of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. The Center will increase WRI’s reach in developed and emerging cities, building on the work of the EMBARQ Network, which will continue to help cities make sustainable transport a reality.
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EMBARQ India pushes for the expansion of Gurgaon’s groundbreaking car-free Sunday
Gurgaon's Raahgiri Day – enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart – has been an unprecedented success. The car-free concept has gained momentum within Gurgaon and is now beginning to spread to other Indian cities. Photo by EMBARQ.
Since its inception in November 2013, Gurgaon, India’s Raahgiri Day has exploded in popularity. About 350,000 total people have already participated in the weekly event, with the numbers growing each week. The encouraging turnout every Sunday and numerous requests from citizens got authorities and founding members – EMBARQ India, IAmGurgaon, Pedalyatri, Duplays, and Heritage School – thinking about its expansion. Beginning February 3, 2014, the Raahgiri Day “loop” of car-free streets more than doubled, adding 6.5 km to the existing 4.8 km loop.
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Fastest growing city in Mexico looks to expand sustainable urban mobility
Tijuana is the fastest growing city in Mexico, and quickly becoming one of the most congested. A new bus rapid transit (BRT) system, supported by EMBARQ Mexico, will help bring back people-centered urban mobility to the city. Photo by Guillermo Buelna/Flickr.
Tijuana, capital and largest city in the state of Baja California, is the sixth largest metropolitan area in Mexico and holds an important location on the United States-Mexico border. Located just miles from San Diego in the United States, the two cities form what is considered one of the busiest borders in the world. This transnational metropolitan area is extremely large geographically, and ties together a vast array of cultures, histories, and economies.
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Workshop explores financing mechanisms for sustainable transit-oriented development (TOD)
China's city leaders are looking to new methods of financing sustainable transport projects to provide urban mobility to the country's growing number of urban residents. Photo by Rob Chan/Flickr.
On April 22, 2014, EMBARQ China held a workshop entitled “Mainstreaming Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in China by Unlocking the Potentials of Land Value Capture (LVC).” Vijay Jagannathan, Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the EMBARQ China team, met with professionals from the