About ACCESS

ACCESS is helping shape the future of transport in Latin America. By accelerating access to low-carbon urban mobility solutions through digitalisation, the ACCESS project aims to measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector in urban areas in six Latin American countries.

To achieve this, existing and new data and technology solutions will be used to enhance the positive aspects of transport innovations and mitigate the negative aspects. Successes and lessons learned in digital development from other sectors will be used to inform project activities and policy recommendations.

Transport-related Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) will be integrated into the objectives and targets for each country. In close cooperation with local and national governments, businesses and academic partners, the project is testing and validating innovative solutions that enable the transition towards sustainable mobility.

Key Activities

Rolling Out Innovative Pilots: to showcase the transformative potential of innovative digital solutions for urban mobility services in 10 cities. These will inform plans and policies and contribute to scale up at city, country, and regional levels.

Crafting Local Strategies: Developing tailored subnational policies and plans to support cities/metropolitan areas or states to adopt plans and policies to mainstream inclusive, low carbon mobility aided by digitalization.

Building National Blueprints: Creating robust national frameworks to pave the way for seamless digital integration in the mobility sector and support national governments to approve policy frameworks, including guidance, regulations, financial commitments that improve low carbon urban mobility and enhance the use of digitalization for sustainable transportation.

Scaling Up Regionally: Designing a comprehensive regional framework, a robust structure filled with a wide array of tools, capacity-building initiatives, and opportunities for regional exchange, ensuring scalable impact through widespread adoption and replication.

What is UEMI’s role in this project?

UEMI is supporting the project on the development of digital solutions for electric mobility, building on the SOLUTIONSplus flagship project. UEMI is contributing to the Living Lab co-design process in Argentina and Ecuador and supports the regional and global replication and outreach.

With the consortium partners and local actors in Argentina we are:

Developing a Mobility Dashboard to support public transport planning

Launching a pilot project to improve urban logistics through the digital management of “cajones azules” (designated loading zones)

Developing a dynamic routing system for a limited group of urban delivery vehicles in Buenos Aires.

How are we doing this, and why does it matter? Keep reading to find out.

ACCESS Pilot: Mobility Dashboard for Public Transport Planning

As part of the effort to shape the future of transport in Argentina, a pilot is being carried out in La Plata, focusing on the creation of a Mobility Dashboard to support public transport planning.

The pilot aims to develop a digital platform that provides public authorities with reliable, real-time data on urban mobility — including where people travel from and to, which modes of transport they use, and at what times.

Why is this important?

In many cities, transport policies are designed based on assumptions or outdated information. By using real data from sources such as smart cards, mobile phones, MaaS platforms, and bike-sharing systems, the dashboard will allow governments to:

Understand actual travel patterns

Improve public transport routes and frequencies

Identify mobility gaps affecting women and vulnerable groups

Monitor environmental impacts and promote low-emission solutions

The data from the Mobility Dashboard will support more informed policy decisions and help design transport systems that are more responsive, equitable, and sustainable.

What happens next?

While the dashboard will first be implemented in La Plata, the long-term vision is to replicate and adapt the tool in other cities across Argentina. This will support a broader shift toward smarter, greener, and more inclusive mobility planning at the national level.

After learning more about one of the ACCESS project’s pilots in Argentina, it’s time to explore another: the Smart Loading Zones in Buenos Aires.

ACCESS Pilot: Smart Loading Zones in Buenos Aires

Also as part of the ACCESS project, Buenos Aires is launching a pilot to improve urban logistics through the digital management of “cajones azules” – dedicated loading and unloading zones. This pilot aims to ease traffic, enhance logistics operations, and reduce emissions by using technology to organize curb space more efficiently.

How will this pilot work in practice?

The pilot will focus on 20 smart loading zones across two areas of Buenos Aires. These areas were chosen for their high delivery activity and traffic congestion, where better organization can bring significant improvements.

A mobile app will allow registered users (typically delivery drivers) to locate available blue zones, check real-time availability, and make a reservation. On-site, license plate recognition cameras, digital displays, and signal lights will monitor access and guide users. If a vehicle parks without a reservation, the system will flag the violation.

What are we aiming to achieve?

Better traffic flow: Reduced double-parking and congestion in the pilot areas.

Efficient logistics: Delivery vehicles can complete more stops in less time.

Improved data: Authorities will have operational data to optimize the number and placement of loading zones.

Gender equity: The team supporting users on-site and assisting with the app will be composed of young women, promoting inclusion in urban mobility roles.

Time to discover the 3rd ACCESS project’s pilots in Argentina, it’s time to explore another: the Dynamic Routing for Urban Logistics in Buenos Aires.

ACCESS Pilot – Dynamic Routing for Urban Logistics in Buenos Aires

This pilot is an initiative to test a dynamic routing platform for a limited group of urban delivery vehicles in Buenos Aires. In partnership with Express Logística, the pilot will help create smarter, cleaner, and more efficient logistics in the city by using technology to adapt routes in real time based on traffic conditions, delivery patterns, and environmental data.

An effort will be made to integrate the dynamic routing system with the "Cajones Azules” platform - another pilot mentioned above -, enabling automatic reservation of delivery points and setting the nearest “cajon azul” to the delivery location as the destination.

Why it matters?

Urban freight transport is a growing challenge in large cities, contributing to congestion, emissions, and inefficiencies. This pilot addresses these challenges by:

Reducing environmental impact through optimized, real-time routing

Improving traffic conditions by diverting vehicles away from congested areas

Generating valuable data to inform public policy and long-term planning

Integrating with existing infrastructure, such as the city’s “cajon zaul” delivery system

By piloting this technology in a real-world setting, the project will help shape future strategies for low-emission, high-efficiency urban logistics.

What can be expected from this pilot?

It is expected that, after the platform is developed and tested by Express Logística, it will be made available to transport and logistics companies, as well as to anyone interested in using it for deliveries within the city of Buenos Aires.

Now it is time to discover what we are working on in Ecuador:

ACCESS Pilot - Transport optimization and AQ models

This pilot aims to use advanced digital modeling tools to support more effective and environmentally friendly planning for Quito’s public transport system. By leveraging local expertise and real-time data, the project supports fleet electrification, optimizes routes, and helps the city make informed decisions about investments and operations.

How it works

A partnership between universities, city agencies, and public operators collects and analyzes data on fleet operations, passenger flows, and emissions. These digital models enable planners to simulate different scenarios, such as new electric routes or optimized schedules, and assess their impact on both the environment and the user experience. Capacity-building activities ensure that local staff are trained to use and maintain these tools over the long term.

What can be expected

Data-driven planning for a cleaner, more efficient public transport network

Reduced waiting and transfer times for passengers

Strengthened technical capacity within city agencies

Actionable recommendations for investment in sustainable mobility

Check out the second pilot, centered on improving last-mile deliveries.

ACCESS Pilot: Data platform for the last-mile logistics pilot

The second pilot in Ecuador focuses on improving the efficiency and sustainability of last-mile deliveries in central Quito. The aim is to coordinate deliveries using a digital platform that prioritizes low-emission vehicles, such as electric cargo bikes and vans.

Inside the pilot

The pilot introduces a digital cross-docking platform in the Historic Center, allowing local businesses and courier cooperatives to consolidate deliveries and optimize routes in real time. Delivery zones are designated for low-emission vehicles, and participants receive training to operate the system effectively. Continuous engagement with businesses and delivery associations ensures the platform meets real-world needs and encourages widespread participation.

Expected results

We expected include reduced congestion and emissions in Quito’s city center, improved delivery reliability and efficiency for local businesses, the implementation of a functional real-time logistics coordination platform, and enhanced collaboration between municipal agencies, SMEs, and private operators.

Finally, the third and final ACCESS pilot in Ecuador focuses on integrated and inclusive mobility solutions.

ACCESS Pilot: Multi-modal integration (gender-inclusive MaaS and SIR)

The third pilot is designed to create a seamless travel experience by integrating different transport modes—including metro, BRT, buses, and shared mobility—into a single digital platform. Special attention is given to gender inclusion and equitable access.

Why it is important?

A Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform is developed to allow users to plan multimodal trips, access real-time service information, and make digital payments. The project works closely with transit operators to ensure compatibility and system integration. Community engagement activities, co-design workshops, and targeted outreach help shape a platform that is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to diverse mobility needs.

What do we aim to achieve?

A unified digital platform for planning and paying for journeys across multiple transport modes

Enhanced accessibility and safety for all users, with a strong focus on gender inclusion

Valuable data to inform inclusive mobility policy and future expansion

Foundations for scaling digital mobility solutions to other Ecuadorian cities

All ACCESS pilots shows how digital tools can transform urban features, like curbs, into smart and sustainable solutions. It reflects UEMI’s commitment to supporting cities in transitioning to people-centered, climate-friendly mobility systems through data-driven actions.