Could Congestion Charges Work in Latin America?

Latin America is home to several growing megalopolises and an expanding urban landscape. According to UN-Habitat, São Paulo and Mexico City are the 5 and 7 most populated metropolitan areas in the world, with 21.3 and 21.1 million people respectively, while other cities in Latin America––like Santiago, Bogotá, Lima, and Buenos Aires––sprawl from about 7 to 15 million.

Currently, approximately 80 percent of Latin America’s population is urban and according to estimates, by 2050, more than 90 percent of inhabitants will end up living in big, congested cities––in a region where car demand is soaring. Automobile consultant Jato reports that car sales in Latin America skyrocketed by 14.6 percent in 2017. More than 3 million new vehicles were sold with Brazil leading the market, followed by Argentina and Chile. So yes, you guessed it: Vehicular transportation will be key in the future of these cities. And so will congestion charges.