MobiliseYourCity Welcomes Movamos Región: Building a Connected and Sustainable Transport Network in Southwest Colombia
Movamos Región is an inter-municipal transport authority uniting Cali, Palmira, Jamundí, Yumbo and Valle del Cauca, a territory of nearly three million inhabitants that accounts for more than 60 percent of the population and economic activity of Valle del Cauca. The region’s mobility system is shaped by strong daily commuting flows between municipalities but has long been limited by fragmented planning and insufficient integration between urban and intermunicipal services. High private vehicle use, congestion, safety risks and a rapidly growing urban footprint are pressing challenges. Through its membership in MobiliseYourCity, Movamos Región seeks to consolidate a unified and sustainable mobility strategy, integrate services physically and operationally, promote active transport and accelerate flagship projects such as the Tren de Cercanías del Valle with the support of international cooperation and technical expertise.
The geography of Movamos Región plays a decisive role in its mobility patterns. The Cordillera Occidental limits expansion to the west, concentrating road infrastructure along key eastward corridors. Flat, fertile land has encouraged both urban and industrial growth, increasing freight and passenger demand, while the regional road network faces recurring bottlenecks at river crossings and main arterials. Urban expansion into peripheral areas has intensified commuting, particularly along the Cali–Palmira, Cali–Jamundí and Cali–Yumbo routes, contributing to heavy peak-hour congestion. The area hosts one of Colombia’s major industrial hubs, which generates significant freight traffic that competes with passenger flows. Proximity to the international airport in Palmira adds strategic importance but also requires high-capacity multimodal access that remains underdeveloped.
The mobility system relies heavily on private motorised transport, with more than half of trips made by car or motorcycle, and public transport integration between local and regional services is incomplete. This leads to longer travel times, higher costs and reduced accessibility, especially for residents of new expansion areas. Road safety is a major concern, with preliminary 2024 figures showing high fatality rates, particularly among motorcyclists, in all four municipalities. Informal and unregulated services such as mototaxis and unlicensed colectivos fill some service gaps but lack safety and operational standards. Infrastructure for walking and cycling is insufficient, despite significant potential to expand active mobility and improve access for vulnerable groups.
Recent progress includes the creation of the regional transport authority in 2022, the structuring of the first section of the Tren de Cercanías del Valle between Cali and Jamundí, and the adoption of local mobility plans in several municipalities. Current initiatives include developing a regional integrated transport system, deploying Centrarte as a platform for data-driven decision-making, and advancing policies for service integration, land use, tariffs, road safety and decarbonisation.
By joining MobiliseYourCity, Movamos Región aims to design and implement a regional Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) aligned with international standards, strengthen institutional and technical capacity, and secure access to global best practices and cooperation opportunities. The partnership will support clean mobility projects such as the Tren de Cercanías, improve the integration of services across municipalities and promote walking and cycling as viable transport modes. Membership also offers a platform to share local innovations, learn from other cities facing similar challenges and position the region internationally as a leader in sustainable, inclusive and connected mobility.