Post by Alejandro Rodriguez

Can better public transit drive real income growth? For my thesis at the University of Chicago, I studied the impact of Medellín’s MetroCable system, a unique cable car transit network built to connect low-income, hillside communities to the rest of the city. Using data from 2004 to 2017, I found that neighborhoods with new MetroCable stations saw average annual income increases of over 2 million Colombian pesos (roughly $500 USD) compared to similar areas without access. In short: better transit led to real, measurable economic gains. This research reflects my broader mission to bridge data-driven public policy research with on-the-ground implementation. As a dual U.S.-Colombian citizen, I’m especially focused on driving impact in Latin America and the Global South. As an incoming graduate student at UChicago's Harris School of Public Policy, I'm looking to connect with others working at the intersection of infrastructure, development, and innovation. For those curious to learn more, you can access my thesis here: https://lnkd.in/eJtnuqdq . #PublicTransit #EconomicDevelopment #LatinAmerica #PolicyInnovation #UChicago #MetroCable