Transportation in Mexico
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Mexico's land transportation network is one of the most extensive in Latin America. More than 4,000 kilometers (2,400 mi.) of four-lane highway have been built through government concessions to private sector contractors since 1989, of which 3,500 kilometers (2,100 mi.) have been constructed since 1994. The vast majority of these expressways are toll roads, like in most other developing countries. (Originally awarded under Build-Operate-Transfer concession schemes, most of these private highways have since been "rescued" by central government financial intervention to save the operators from bankruptcy.)
The 26,622 km (16,268 mi.) of government-owned railroads in Mexico have been privatized through the sale of 50-year operating concessions. In the 1980s and 1990s, the government allowed the private operators to abandon nearly all passenger rail service. A plethora of private intercity bus lines serve the nation. Passenger rail service to the Copper Canyon region still operates, due to the remote nature of the area and tourist ridership.
Tampico, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, Veracruz, on the Gulf of Mexico, are Mexico's two primary seaports. Recognizing that the low productivity of Mexico's 108 ports poses a threat to trade development, the government has steadily been privatizing port operations to improve their efficiency. A number of international airlines serve Mexico, with direct or connecting flights from most major cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Latin America. Most Mexican regional capitals and resorts have direct air services to Mexico City or the United States. Airport privatization, based on Mexico's successful experience with seaports, is nearly complete.
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Railways
total:
31,048 km
standard gauge:
30,958 km 1.435-m gauge (246 km electrified)
narrow gauge:
90 km 0.914-m gauge (1998 est.)
Railway map (http://www.worldbank.org/transport/rail/sys_maps/mex_con.gif)
| Cities with underground railway system: | Mexico City (SCT Metro) |
| Guadalajara, Jalisco | |
| Monterrey, Nuevo León (Metrorrey) |
Railway links with adjacent countries
- Guatemala – yes – break-of-gauge 1435mm/914mm
- Belize – no
- United States – yes
Highways
total:
323,977 km
paved:
96,221 km (including 6,335 km of expressways)
unpaved:
227,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways
2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals
Pipelines
crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km
Ports and harbors
Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean)
Pacific Ocean
Other
Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz, Lázaro Cárdenas, Manzanillo, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Topolobampo, Tuxpan.
Merchant marine
total:
46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 633,219 GRT/970,947 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 4, liquified gas 4, petroleum tanker 29, roll-on/roll-off 3, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)
Airports
1,806 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total:
233
over 3,047 m:
10
2,438 to 3,047 m:
28
1,524 to 2,437 m:
87
914 to 1,523 m:
81
under 914 m:
27 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total:
1,573
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
63
914 to 1,523 m:
473
under 914 m:
1,035 (1999 est.)
General Abelardo L. Rodriguez International Airport in Tijuana is the country's northernmost airport.
National airlines: (Mexico has two flag carriers instead of one as most countries do)
Heliports
2 (1999 est.)