At the World Safety and Mobility Day Forum, Milena Quiroga presents the Más Seguridad, Más Movilidad para La Paz Plan (More Safety, More Mobility plan for La Paz). “A safe city is not improvised. It is built,” she said.
She highlighted that in La Paz, 238 cargo trucks weighing approximately 365 tons circulate daily, resulting in over 8,000 tons transported each day. Of this cargo, 80% is destined for Los Cabos, while the remaining 20% is distributed in La Paz and northern municipalities.
Additionally, Baja California Sur ranks as the state with the third highest vehicle rate: 68 per 100 inhabitants, just below Mexico City and Morelos.
The More Safety, More Mobility for La Paz program consists of six specific actions, including non-motorized active mobility, efficient public transportation, quality public spaces, smart infrastructure at CEMOVIAL (Road Monitoring Center), and other initiatives that are being promoted comprehensively.
Smart traffic lights have been installed at 27 intersections, achieving a 50% to 70% reduction in travel times on high-traffic roads. These lights are equipped with cameras and sensors that monitor the number of cars approaching each lane in real time. This information is sent to CEMOVIAL, where specialized software automatically adjusts the light duration based on the current traffic conditions:
If a lane is heavily loaded, the system provides more green light time.
If another lane has little or no traffic, it reduces the cycle time.
The goal is for traffic lights to operate not with fixed timings, but adaptively, according to actual traffic conditions.
Unlike traditional traffic lights, which operate on fixed timers (for example, 30 seconds of green, 5 seconds of yellow, 30 seconds of red), automated traffic lights adjust in real time.
This type of control is known as dynamic traffic light management and aims to minimize wait times, reduce unnecessary queues, and streamline vehicle flow.
Furthermore, CEMOVIAL can adjust traffic lights based on unforeseen situations, such as roadworks, accidents, or mass events. Public transportation or emergency lanes can be prioritized when necessary.
The system’s first cameras begin at the entrance to Camino Real, with approximately 25 traffic lights currently operating using this new technology.
Each traffic light is equipped with two types of cameras, totaling around 100 cameras installed.
They also serve as a tool for detecting traffic offenders, and the mayor is an example of this. On June 4, Milena Quiroga was fined for violating traffic regulations by running a red light. She was driving at the intersection of Forjadores Boulevard and Bahía de La Paz Street, in front of the Instituto Tecnológico de La Paz (ITLP), when, instead of stopping at the yellow light, she continued driving; mid-crossing, the light turned red. These types of violations are recorded by the CEMOVIAL system, which operates through camera monitoring and real-time verification by traffic officers.
It also provides video and photographic evidence of any driver misconduct that violates traffic regulations for safe mobility. The Director General of Public Safety, Preventive Police, and Municipal Traffic stated that the fine was processed according to the established guidelines of the Traffic Regulations, without regard to the driver’s public position. According to the regulations, the fine for running a red light amounts to approximately 2,262.80 pesos.
Despite the incident, Quiroga, while admitting her responsibility, stated:
“It has been four years of work and a plan that is yielding results due to a shared effort and responding with honesty and transparency, which our municipality was lacking, and today we are making it possible.”
“Today, La Paz is moving faster, with more order and security. Let us continue walking together toward fair cities, with safe streets and public spaces that promote inclusion,” she stated.