The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$530 million loan to support the most intensive construction phase of Bogotá’s First Metro Line, paving the way for the completion of the viaduct, stations and key systems, as well as the commissioning of 23 trains ahead of planned commercial operations in 2028.
The investment will improve the quality of public transport in the capital and expand access to socioeconomic opportunities. Line 1 is expected to cut travel times, improve access to employment, reduce emissions and strengthen road safety, with an inclusive design approach that considers gender, income and youth.
“This financing reaffirms our commitment to supporting infrastructure projects that create more and better jobs and contribute to making Colombia’s cities more sustainable, safer, and inclusive,” said Mark R. Thomas, World Bank Country Director for Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. “Bogotá Metro will not only reduce travel times but also improve air quality and expand access to better jobs for the most vulnerable populations.”
Progress to date includes nearly 17,000 direct and indirect jobs generated and contracts with more than 500 Colombian companies. With the new loan, Empresa Metro de Bogotá expects employment to rise sharply, reaching an estimated 115,000 jobs across construction, administration, services and traffic management. Once operational, the line will sustain around 1,500 permanent roles.
Line 1 will be fully electric and automated, connecting Bogotá’s southwest with the expanded downtown through a 24-kilometre elevated viaduct and 16 stations. It will integrate with the city’s Integrated Public Transport System (SITP) and is expected to directly benefit 2.92 million residents across nine localities and 78 neighbourhoods. Travel times along the Caracas corridor will drop from 93 to 29 minutes, with capacity for up to 1.05 million passengers per day, particularly serving vulnerable areas.
The project is central to Bogotá’s wider vision for an integrated, resilient and accessible transport system, including improvements to pedestrian and cycling networks, enhanced public spaces and lighting, and measures to boost women’s participation in the transport workforce. Anti-harassment protocols will also be introduced across public transport services.
Bogotá’s First Metro Line is co-financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, with additional support from the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. In total, more than US$670 million in private capital has been mobilised, strengthening the project’s long-term financial sustainability.
