Urban Mobility and Social Justice: public transport in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, Mexico

The study analysed public transport as a strategic public policy, fundamental to sustainable urban development. Academic sources from 1960 to 2020 were reviewed, focusing on economic, social, technological and urban aspects. The analysis showed that the efficiency of the system depends on factors such as ownership structure, fare policy and user perception. The research addressed operating revenues and costs, highlighting that fare setting should consider social equity criteria in addition to technical and financial criteria. The relationship between service quality and profitability was also studied, concluding that certain variables, such as safety, improved profitability, while others, such as negative user perception, decreased it. The social value of time was presented as key to assessing the efficiency and equity of the system, highlighting the need to reduce waiting and travel times. Financing and subsidies were identified as essential mechanisms for ensuring financial sustainability without compromising the social function of transport. The implementation of prepaid smart card systems was positively evaluated for their efficiency and ability to generate useful data for planning. Finally, it was emphasised that the sustainability of public transport depends on its integration with urban policies aimed at traffic, electrification, densification and territorial equity. It was concluded that a strategic vision, based on evidence, citizen participation and intersectoral cooperation, is crucial for building more inclusive and liveable cities.