Mexico's Valley of Mexico Metropolitan Area Expands to 84 Municipalities, Including Morelos

The metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico has officially expanded to encompass 84 municipalities, marking a significant regional integration that includes the state of Morelos for the first time. This historic decision, approved during the First Ordinary Session of the Metropolitan Development Council for the Valley of Mexico, held at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), is the first such expansion in 30 years. Edna Vega Rangel, Secretary of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu), hailed the move as a demonstration of political will not seen in three decades. The newly defined Valley of Mexico now comprises all 16 mayoralties of Mexico City, 59 municipalities from the State of Mexico, eight from Hidalgo, and the single municipality of Huitzilac from Morelos. Governor of Morelos, Margarita González Saravia, emphasized Huitzilac's strategic importance, noting its role in capturing water vital for both Morelos and Mexico City, and stated that the integration will bolster water resource management and combat illegal logging. Clara Brugada, Head of Government of Mexico City, celebrated the expansion, highlighting that the metropolis is home to 23 million people and stressing that national development is intrinsically linked to metropolitan progress. Governor of the State of Mexico, Delfina Gómez Álvarez, affirmed her state's commitment, noting that 59 of the incorporated municipalities are within its territory and advocating for regional approaches to shared challenges. Governor of Hidalgo, Julio Menchaca, pointed out that his state's participation increased from one municipality to eight, with potential for further inclusions in the future. The council also approved the preliminary draft for public consultation of the Metropolitan Development Program for the Valley of Mexico.