Guanajuato Launches Call for Bids to Modernize Public Transportation

and suburban transport services. This decision addresses the urgent need to reorganize a service that has not been updated in 22 years. The administration led by Samantha Smith prioritized this issue to improve the daily lives of thousands of users. Furthermore, it introduced a transparent model aimed at elevating service quality and addressing a backlog accumulated since 2003.

Twenty-Two Years Without Renovation: A Backlog Impacting Citizens

The City Council explained that since 2003, when the state government transferred the route system to the municipality, no open call for bids had been issued. This delay resulted in a shortage of units, irregular services, and substandard conditions for both users and drivers. Families relying on public transportation faced daily challenges due to outdated routes and constantly failing vehicles. The new call for bids seeks to transform this landscape through a clear and verifiable process.

New Requirements: Modernity, Safety, and Advanced Technology

The call for bids introduces requirements never before mandatory in the capital. Units must be modern, less polluting, and equipped with cameras, GPS, internet, valid insurance, universal accessibility, and centralized real-time monitoring. These features will enable the provision of safe and efficient service. They will also ensure dignified conditions for operators and passengers. Technological innovation will be a pillar for monitoring routes, preventing incidents, and improving punctuality.

A Direct Impact on the Lives of Thousands

The improvements will include benefits for students, senior citizens, night-shift workers, and families who rely on transportation for education, employment, or medical appointments. Enhanced service will enable more people to arrive at their activities on time and travel safely. Modern transportation also promotes social inclusion, which is why the call for bids mandates accessibility as a compulsory criterion.

A Public Policy Based on Planning and Responsibility

Mayor Samantha Smith affirmed that her administration has moved past improvisations. She noted that the municipality presented the Comprehensive Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, redesigned routes, and approved a stable fare policy effective July 2024. “Today, we take a decisive step with this call for bids, an act of responsibility and social justice,” said the Mayor. She also highlighted that the process ensures respect for citizens’ daily lives by addressing a historical backlog.

Criteria Boosting the Local Economy

Although the process is national, the City Council included a tie-breaking criterion that favors Guanajuato-based companies. This mechanism aims to retain investment within the capital and strengthen the local economy. The municipal government believes that modern transportation stimulates commerce, tourism, and productivity. Furthermore, it creates conditions that enhance urban development.

Towards a Modern, Dignified, and Reliable System

The unanimous approval marks a decisive step towards a dignified, safe, and modern system. It also consolidates the commitment to building a strong, transparent municipality with more opportunities for its population. The call for bids initiates a process that will leave decades of stagnation behind, allowing Guanajuato capital to have an organized, efficient public transportation system aligned with current standards. The article