HSC Urban Places - Megacities - 3

Question 1

Housing: MAIN TOPIC 1

Answer 1

• Sites-and-services are projects in which the recipient receives lots on which they may build their own units from scratch
• Vecindades: inner-city apartments with 20 to 50 units, shared bathroom facilities
• Over time the neighbourhood improved and the dwellings upgraded

Response:
In 2007, the federal housing commission initiated the National Housing Program
— an aggressive plan to construct six million homes by 2012, roughly one million of which are to be sustainable.

Evaluate:
We know that in 2016 it was found that one-third of residents live in homes with laminate or metal roofing while 10% have dirt floors. This supports the idea that the problem hasn’t been resolved and is still a present challenge. These strategies aren’t the most effective ways to prevent these issues.

Question 2

Water and Power Supplies: MAIN TOPIC 2

Answer 2

• Water is pumped from 200kms away
• Six power stations were built along the line to pump the water

Response:
Isla Urbana, a nonprofit organization, has been working to install rainwater harvesting solutions in Mexico City’s informal settlements for 13 years now by installing rainwater harvesting systems, Mexico City is reducing its drinkable water scarcity problem by making use of something it has in abundance: rain. In 2016, Mexico City launched the “Aqua a tu Casa” program with the purpose of solving the drinking water scarcity problem in marginalized areas.

Evaluation:
The system is inexpensive and easy to install. Results show RWH can meet 88% of household water demand during the 6-month wet season and save a big amount of money.

Question 3

Traffic Infrastructure:

Answer 3

• Massive underground rail system built to alleviate air pollution problems
• Fares are kept low
• 5 million a day use the underground

Question 4

Employment:

Answer 4

• Government has promoted economic growth in other urban areas and along the US/Mexico border to create more jobs and deter migration to Mexico City

Question 5

Air Pollution: MAIN TOPIC 3

Answer 5

• World Bank has sponsored projects to curb air pollution through public transport and the introduction of emission standards
• Government has shut down heavy polluting factories
• Trucks only use LPG
• In 1989, the government instituted a day without a car program. However, this was ineffective as the wealthy could just buy another car
• In 2004 the air stayed within ‘satisfactory’ levels for 141 days
• Mexico City expanded underground transport tunnels to serve more people on a daily basis
• Busses are being renewed with added bus lanes and now bike lanes