Metropolitan Mobility & Public Space Strategy

Estrategia Metropolitana de Transporte y Espacio Público (Fase 2)

Year: 2025

Co-Authors: Developed by a multidisciplinary team including Lucio de Souza, Daniella Urrutia, Lucía Bogliaccini and Pablo Frontini (Project Coordination), with key advisory from Santiago Cola (Landscape), Analía Gandolfi (Water Sensitive Design), Maite Lacava (Communication & Design) and Bethania Lanzaro (Carbon Assessment).

Client: Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP, Uruguay)
Role: Sustainability Advisor & Coordinator
Tags: Regenerative Urbanism | Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) | Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) | Decarbonisation Strategy | Integrated Waste Management | Environmental Financing Models

The Montevideo Metropolitan Mobility System proposes a structural transformation of the city’s transit network, prioritising High-Frequency Lines (LAF) within an Ecosystemic Urbanism framework.

The project goes beyond traditional infrastructure by integrating ecological functions into the metropolitan fabric, positioning mobility systems as environmental assets.

It incorporates Biotic Corridors and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) to replicate natural hydrological cycles, manage stormwater, and mitigate the urban heat island effect—resulting in 36,773 m² of new green space and a 500% increase in tree canopy.

Additionally, Circular Economy principles guide material reuse, transforming construction waste into structural and ecological components. The system is supported by Environmental Financing models aligned with international Green Funds.

By reducing CO₂ emissions by an estimated 178,000 tonnes annually, the project establishes a resilient, nature-based model for metropolitan mobility.

El Sistema de Movilidad Metropolitana de Montevideo propone una transformación estructural de la red de transporte de la ciudad, priorizando las Líneas de Alta Frecuencia (LAF) dentro de un enfoque de Urbanismo Ecosistémico. El proyecto trasciende la infraestructura tradicional al integrar funciones ecológicas en el tejido metropolitano, posicionando los sistemas de movilidad como activos ambientales. Incorpora Corredores Bióticos y Sistemas de Drenaje Urbano Sostenible (SuDS) para replicar ciclos hidrológicos naturales, gestionar el agua de lluvia y mitigar el efecto de isla de calor, generando 36.773 m² de nuevos espacios verdes y un aumento del 500% en el arbolado urbano. Además, aplica principios de Economía Circular mediante la reutilización de residuos de construcción como materiales estructurales y sustratos. El sistema se apoya en modelos de financiamiento ambiental alineados con fondos verdes internacionales. Al reducir aproximadamente 178.000 toneladas de CO₂ por año, el proyecto establece un modelo resiliente y basado en la naturaleza para la movilidad metropolitana.

Key Contributions

Cross-Disciplinary Coordination

Coordinated a multidisciplinary team across landscape, WSUD, and carbon assessment, integrating environmental systems into infrastructure design. Translated policy objectives into measurable, costed, and technically resolved outcomes, ensuring alignment across design, advisory, and delivery teams.

Regenerative Urbanism Strategy

Led the shift from conventional transport planning to a regenerative urbanism approach. Integrated Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) and biotic corridors, repositioning mobility infrastructure as ecological systems that restore urban environments. Defined strategies including biotic reserves and productive landscapes.

Urban Biotic Reserve – Tres Cruces

Delivered the strategy for a 22,000 m² Urban Biotic Reserve, incorporating constructed wetlands and native planting to manage stormwater, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate urban heat. Designed as a socio-environmental “living laboratory”.

Circular Economy & Waste Strategy

Developed an integrated construction and demolition waste (CDW) framework, enabling on-site reuse of materials as structural fill, recycled aggregates, and bioretention substrates, reducing embodied carbon.

Climate Finance Alignment

Aligned the project with international climate funding frameworks (GCF, GEF, BIOFIN), strengthening investment readiness and financial viability.

Climate Adaptation & Resilience

Integrated IPCC climate scenarios into design and developed Adaptive Essential Units—public infrastructure providing shade, hydration, and inclusive amenities to support resilience across mobility corridors.

Sustainability Benchmarking

Applied global frameworks including Green Star – Communities, LEED for Cities, and WELL to guide performance in liveability, health, and environmental outcomes.

Contribuciones

Coordinación Multidisciplinaria
Coordinación de un equipo interdisciplinario en paisaje, drenaje urbano sostenible (WSUD) y evaluación de carbono, integrando sistemas ambientales en el diseño de infraestructura. Traducción de objetivos de política pública en resultados medibles, presupuestados y técnicamente desarrollados, asegurando coherencia entre diseño, asesoría y ejecución.

Estrategia de Urbanismo Regenerativo
Liderazgo en la transición desde un enfoque tradicional de transporte hacia un modelo de urbanismo regenerativo. Integración de Soluciones basadas en la Naturaleza (SbN) y corredores bióticos, posicionando la infraestructura de movilidad como sistema ecológico. Definición de estrategias como reservas bióticas y paisajes productivos.

Reserva Biótica Urbana – Tres Cruces
Desarrollo de la estrategia para una Reserva Biótica Urbana de 22.000 m², incorporando humedales construidos y vegetación nativa para la gestión de aguas pluviales, el aumento de biodiversidad y la mitigación del efecto isla de calor. Concepción como “laboratorio vivo” socioambiental.

Economía Circular y Gestión de Residuos
Elaboración de un marco integral para la gestión de residuos de construcción y demolición (RCD), promoviendo la reutilización in situ de materiales como rellenos estructurales, agregados reciclados y sustratos para biorretención, con reducción de la huella de carbono incorporado.

Alineación con Financiamiento Climático
Estructuración del proyecto conforme a estándares de financiamiento climático internacional (GCF, GEF, BIOFIN), fortaleciendo su viabilidad económica y capacidad de atracción de inversión.

Adaptación y Resiliencia Climática
Integración de escenarios climáticos del IPCC en el diseño y desarrollo de las Unidades Esenciales Adaptativas (UEA), como infraestructura pública para provisión de sombra, hidratación y servicios inclusivos.

Benchmarking en Sostenibilidad
Aplicación de estándares internacionales como Green Star – Communities, LEED for Cities y WELL, orientando el proyecto hacia altos niveles de habitabilidad, salud urbana y desempeño ambiental.

Improved Access to Care and Childcare Centers through Metropolitan Mobility

Project Outcome & Impact

Ecosystem Restoration & Climate Resilience

Biodiversity uplift: Delivery of a 500% increase in urban tree canopy (from 1,735 to over 9,400 trees), alongside 500,000 native plantings to restore metropolitan ecological corridors.
Urban cooling: Implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including 36,773 m² of new green infrastructure, improving pedestrian thermal comfort (UTCI) and mitigating urban heat island effects.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD): Design of a decentralised stormwater system with 75 bioretention systems and 70 rain gardens, capable of managing 2,800 m³ during peak events and reducing pressure on ageing sewer networks.

Decarbonisation & Circular Economy

Carbon reduction: Contribution to an estimated reduction of 178,000 tCO₂e per year—equivalent to removing approximately 38,000 cars—through electrified transport integration and enhanced urban carbon sequestration.
Circular resource use: Development of a Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) framework enabling on-site reuse of materials, diverting over 1.5 million m³ of waste from landfill into structural and landscape applications.

Strategic Financing & Economic Value

Climate finance alignment: Alignment of project outcomes with Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) criteria, supporting access to international climate funding.
Value capture strategy: Development of an environmental financing model based on land value uplift, enabling reinvestment into affordable housing and public green infrastructure.

Social Equity & Inclusive Infrastructure

Adaptive Essential Units (UEA): Establishment of a network of climate-responsive public amenities providing access to hydration, shade, inclusive sanitation and lactation spaces, addressing equity and accessibility across mobility corridors.
Employment generation: Sustainability-led project components projected to create over 5,500 jobs, spanning green infrastructure delivery and long-term urban ecosystem management.