Mexico City Metro introduces new rules for commercial spaces to curb abuses

Mexico City's Metro is tightening its rules for commercial operations within its stations, a move Director General Adrián Rubalcava says is aimed at "putting order" into the system. The new "Regulation for the installation, operation, verification and security of commercial premises and/or spaces assigned and/or owned by the Collective Transport System" was published in the Official Gazette, replacing a 2020 version.

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This regulation is aimed at putting order in the system; one of the platforms and structures that I have proposed since I arrived at the Metro is to start ordering absolutely everything we have in the system.

Rubalcava explained that the regulation targets abuses by holders of Temporary Revocable Administrative Permits (PATR) and aims to streamline administrative and operational aspects. He noted that the growth of commerce within the Metro system, including PATRs, had become disorganized. The new rules seek to bring clarity to documentation and legal certainty for both users and permit holders, which he believes will positively impact revenue collection for the CDMX government.

"This regulation is aimed at putting order in the system," Rubalcava stated. He highlighted issues such as the constant subletting of PATRs, which exponentially increases rental costs without benefiting the Metro system. He also pointed to a "duplication of documentation" for cylinders entering the system, leading to saturation.

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Today we visualize the constant of subletting the PATRS to third parties, which makes the rental cost increase exponentially, leaving no benefit to the system.

While emphasizing that the new rules are "not strict," Rubalcava asserted they will bring much-needed order. He indicated that many PATR holders had engaged in abuses and excesses, turning the spaces into private businesses that did not align with city policies. He cited an excess of 30% of cylinders in the system lacking proper documentation or being in the wrong locations, contributing to saturation.

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There is an excess of 30% of cylinders that are not in the system, but they do not have documentation or do not correspond to the line where they are located.