Colombia: Cable Cars in Medellín | Global 3000

Medellín poses a very special challenge for city traffic planners: Many residential areas in Colombia's second-largest city are located on the steep hillsides of the Aburrá valley. For years, there was no way to access them via public transit. Instead, overfilled mini-buses and shared taxis navigated switchback roads to reach the city center.City administrators have found an innovative and eco-friendly solution to the problem: They planned six cable car lines to connect higher-lying areas to the city. Commuters there can then transfer to the metro. The cable car project in Medellín is the first of its kind worldwide. It's seen as a way to protect the environment and fight poverty - and it's giving residents in remote areas access to their city's cultural and employment opportunities.