Medellín - elevating people from the slumsA case study in demonstrating equitable and inclusive governance through the implementation of innovative approaches to transportation

PLAN7614Tonya Payne 33155896

From murder capital to world’s most innovative cityMedellín, Colombia’s second largest city, was once most notable for being the murder capital of the world in the 1990s (The Guardian 2013). It has now been internationally recognised (The Guardian 2013) as one of the world’s most innovative cities for urban transformation, through urban planning and implementation of innovative public transport initiatives (such as the cable car shown above).

Not just cable cars..These transport initiatives not only included connecting slum areas (known as Comunas) with the city centre, and other areas of the city and other transport networks via cable car, but also utilising lifts, bridges and a giant 365m long escalator (The Guardian 2013), as shown above.

The poor as a priorityThese transport initiatives and associated urban renewal projects focused on the low income areas of Medellín are a physical demonstration of one of the key aspects of good governance, equity and inclusiveness. The physical presence and the experience of utilising the new transport systems and other striking public buildings located within low income areas is also likely to impact on the mindset of residents of these areas, a notion that they are important and a priority for the city. (The Guardian 2013, Metrocable Santo Domingo 2009)

Medellín – Colombia’s second city Medellin’s population is estimated as 3.9 million (including surrounding areas) (CIA 2015) and the city accounts for 11% of the Colombian economy (Wikipedia 2015). Medellín is an important regional centre for universities (over 30), science/health services and commerce/industry. One of these industries, the main electricity supplier is owned by the city (Wikipedia 2015). Profits from this organisation supplement the taxes collected by the city administration and go towards funding the city’s development projects (Bocarejo and Velasquez 2012).

Medellín’s challengesMedellín’s metropolitan area is located in the Aburra valley and the surrounding steep hills are home to a large percentage of the population living in slums areas, known as “comunas”. The metro (train) system cannot reach these areas due to their hillside location (The Guardian 2013). Many of these areas are too steep even for buses, resulting in extensive travel times to the city centre and other parts of the city. The disconnection between the hillside comunas and the rest of the city inhibited residents’ ability to access employment opportunities and city services (Bocarejo and Velasquez 2012).

Crime and gang control of slumsMedellín was the home of the Medellín Cartel funded by Pablo Escobar. The comunas were also previously controlled by urban militias, fostered in part by the inaccessibility of these communities. These groups were partially dismantled but elements of these groups have subsequently reformed into criminal gangs known as Aguilas Negras, which control parts of the city and are responsible for ongoing high rates of violence. (Wikipedia 2015, HRW 2010)

What did Medellín do?Medellín adopted a new approach to urban regeneration in 2004 which would, as part of an overall equitable and inclusive urban plan, “get public transport into the poorest areas, open the spaces, build the schools and centres of learning, create jobs” (as described by the former Mayor Sergio Farjardo (The Guardian 2013)). One of these centres of learning is the dramatic Parque Biblioteca España (pictured above), a library park located in one of the poorest neighbourhoods, Santo Domingo.

What has changed in Medellín?Studies have demonstrated the new transportation systems have decreased residents’ transport costs, improved the accessibility of services and job opportunities and resulted in improved living conditions (Bocarejo and Velasques, 2012). Medellin has become a tourist destination, including the cable cars themselves and the plazas and parks (such as Botero Plaza shown above) linked to the transportation systems. However significant challenges remain for Medellín, including control of areas of the city by crime gangs, associated violence and forced urban displacement of people by these groups (Wikipedia 2015, HRW 2010).

A template for other cities?The cable car as a transportation system for low income and hard to access areas in Medellín has inspired similar systems in other cities in Columbia and Latin America, including Rio de Janeiro (as pictured above). However a proposed cable car system for Soacha, a satellite city of Bogota (Columbia’s capital city), failed to proceed. Identified reasons for this project’s failure include that it was a stand alone transportation project rather than part of an overall urban regeneration plan and that the Soacha city was not considered an efficient and effective administration (one of the key aspects of good governance), without independent means to fund the initial expenditure and ongoing maintenance. (Bocarejo and Velasques, 2012)

Medellín – working towards an equitable and inclusive cityDespite the ongoing challenges, Medellín has demonstrated a key aspect of good governance through continuing to plan and pursue urban renewal projects that strive to include all sections of society and provide equity of access to services and opportunities. As stated by Sergio Fajardo, the former mayor, it started as “not top-down policy, but one that would begin with the poorest neighbourhood and re-conquer spaces that had been lost to violence” (The Guardian 2013).

Photo SourcesPhoto 1 – Audley Travel 2015, Medellin, Colombia, viewed August 3 2015 http://www.audleytravel.com/colombia/places-to-go/medellin

Photo 2 – The Guardian 2014, The transformation of Medellín provides a model for cities worldwide April 10 2014, viewed August 18 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/apr/10/medellin-transformation-model-cities-worldwide-resilience

Photo 3 – National Geographic 2012, Green Moves: Medellin Cable Cars, San Francisco Parking Reform, viewed August 21 2015http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/12/120125-sustainable-transport-awards-2012/

Photo 4 – Damon Mushrush 2014, 1 month cycling through Colombia, viewed August 21 2015http://www.estoyvagando.com/2014/02/1-month-cycling-through-colombia.html

Photo 5 – Penang Travel Tips 2013, Medellín, Colombia, viewed August 12 2015http://www.big-world-out-there.com/c/colombia/medellin.htm

Photo 6 – Bonniebonnbonnfocus date unknown, The virgin auctions : Colombian street gangs sell girls as young as ten to drug lords and foreign tourists, viewed August 6 2015http://bonniebonnbonnfocus.weebly.com/the-virgin-auctions--colombian-street-gangs-sell-girls-as-young-as-ten-to-drug-lords-and-foreign-tourists.html

Photo 7 – Terraurban 2013, Dignity by Design: Tool of Social Urbanism, viewed August 3 2015https://terraurban.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/dignity-by-design-tool-of-social-urbanism/

Photo 8 – VacationX Travel 2010, Medellin in Colombia – Best Places to Visit & Tourist Attractions, viewed August 3 2015http://america.vacationxtravel.com/medellin-colombia-best-places-visit-tourist-attractions/

Photo 9 – Metro 2013, Taking to the skies over Rio’s favelas before the forthcoming World Cup and Olympics , viewed August 12 2015http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/30/taking-to-the-skies-over-rios-favelas-before-the-forthcoming-world-cup-and-olympic-games-3814352/

Photo 10 - The Guardian 2013, Medellín, Colombia: reinventing the world's most dangerous city June 9 2013, viewed August 19 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/medellin-colombia-worlds-most-dangerous-city

References utilised in the preparation of this presentation are detailed in the references section of the accompanying visual essay