With the help of the World Bank, Peru’s capital decided to go a step further towards integrating its inner city connections by organizing an international competition to improve accessibility and mobility in the areas around its rapid transit bus (BRT) stations. The BRT is a fast, quality bus service that runs on separate lanes from general traffic and has features that make it operate like a rail system. These bus systems are becoming popular worldwide as a more cost-effective alternative to underground rail systems.

The project includes a study on the mobility requirements of the disabled and elderly along the 38-stop bus route, their problems and preferences, points of origin and destination, accessibility within a 500-m radius of the stations, as well as additional works in the planning. A multi-criteria optimization system will be used to identify the best station with the aim of improving traffic and coordination with other means of transport, and enhancing accessibility and safety measures. The bus system needs to be better integrated in the areas where it operates and more accessible to all users.

The primary objective of Rovira-Beleta’s winning project is to select a station from among the five main stations on the bus route and implement a series of urban-planning and mobility improvements in the area aimed at increasing accessibility, pedestrian safety and the station’s integration within the city.

This is a pilot project that may be implemented in other places. The first step is to select the station where intervention in the surrounding areas will be the most effective. The project also includes solution designs for all five main stations, not just the station where action is required: rearranging pavements and roads, traffic integration and calming, street furniture, connections between different modes of transport, etc. Finally, the winning pilot project’s proposal will be fully developed and presented to the public.

Enrique Rovira-Beleta, the director of the ESARQ School of Architecture’s Area of Accessibility, is currently in Lima finalizing the project details with Acceplan and Lima City Council. The team includes experts from other companies, such as Gea21, and highly qualified freelance technicians from Peru and Brazil.