Since September 2026, LEITNER and Politecnico di Torino have been working together on a one-year research project on urban mobility and design, coordinated by Prof. Pier Paolo Peruccio. The project focuses on the social, economic and mobility-related impacts of urban ropeway systems, using the Iztapalapa district of Mexico City as a case study.
The first on-site project phase began at the end of August. Participants include students from the Systemic Design master’s degree program at Politecnico di Torino, university researchers and partners from the local universities Anáhuac and UAM. Together with local stakeholders, they are collecting data and analyzing the effects of the existing infrastructure.
Focus on people, mobility and urban development
The research project examines how urban ropeways affect people’s quality of life and daily routines. The key questions include:
• Impact on daily mobility
• Reduction in travel times
• Safety and perceived safety
• Local economic development
• How the population perceives the infrastructure
• Potential challenges for residents and communities
The project also aims to develop guidelines for future co-design processes so that local communities can be more closely involved in infrastructure projects.
The collaboration between Politecnico di Torino and LEITNER in Mexico City enables Systemic Design to address a concrete challenge: making mobility more sustainable and accessible while contributing to urban regeneration. We aim to explore the potential of ropeways not only as transport infrastructure, but also as a starting point for participatory design approaches developed together with local communities that can foster sustainable and inclusive behaviours.
- Prof. Pier Paolo Peruccio, Coordinator of the Research Project at Politecnico di Torino
The importance of urban ropeways for mobility in Mexico City was recently highlighted by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s visit to the construction site of the “Universidad” station on Cablebús Line 4. The system built by LEITNER will serve an 11-kilometre route with nine stations and 390 cabins.
The new connection is expected to reduce travel time for many commuters from around two hours to approximately 40 minutes. The project demonstrates how urban ropeways can contribute to high-performing, safe and efficient mobility infrastructure.
