Morocco's Bold Move Towards a Sustainable Public Transport Revolution
In an exciting development for urban mobility, Morocco has set the stage for a transformative shift in how its citizens travel across cities and regions. The government recently announced an impressive investment of .8 billion aimed at building a cleaner, more integrated public transportation system by 2029. This landmark initiative is one of the largest mobility investments in the country’s history and promises to reshape the travel landscape for millions.
The announcement was made during a side event at COP30 in Belém by Abdellatif Maâzouz, the president of the Casablanca-Settat regional council. His presentation unveiled the ambitious scale and structure of this national plan aimed at placing public transport at the center of daily commuting and reducing dependence on private vehicles. This vision is grounded in a commitment to cleaner technologies, modern infrastructure, and enhanced regional cooperation.
A significant portion of the funding—around .1 billion—is earmarked for acquiring 3,750 environmentally-friendly buses that adhere to the latest efficiency and eco-standards. The remaining .7 billion will be allocated to long-term infrastructure projects, including new tram lines, regional express trains, and extended rail connections between Morocco’s rapidly growing cities.
The initiative has been described by the Ministry of Interior and local councils as a “clean, multimodal system” aimed at improving mobility while tackling one of Morocco’s persistent environmental challenges: transport emissions. The Casablanca-Settat region is leading the charge, allocating .5 billion—nearly 40% of its updated development plan—toward modernizing mobility in both urban and rural areas.
Central to this strategy is a non-polluting train-tramway backbone supported by a fully revamped bus network. A cutting-edge digital multimodal platform will integrate the entire system, providing real-time passenger information, smarter traffic management, and seamless transfers between various transport modes.
According to officials, this platform could rank among the most advanced in Africa, aimed at alleviating congestion and improving the reliability of public transport for everyday commuters.
Early indicators of change are already visible across Morocco. Road expansions around major urban centers have significantly eased traffic congestion, and monitoring stations have reported enhanced air quality between 2023 and 2025. Local councils attribute these improvements to a gradual shift toward shared transport, facilitated by more reliable services and effective regional planning.
During his address at COP30, Maâzouz highlighted how Morocco’s ecological transition is supported by a robust regionalization policy. This allows individual regions to craft and implement their mobility strategies while still aligning with national climate goals, thereby expediting project rollouts and fostering enhanced collaboration among institutions.
Beyond its borders, Morocco aims to solidify its role as a leader in sustainable transport within Africa. The country is set on engaging more closely with African partners through South-South cooperation, focusing on sharing practical knowledge like electrification strategies and advanced digital management tools.
This pivotal investment aligns tightly with Morocco’s broader climate and mobility goals, including the National Sustainable Mobility Charter 2035 and the National Low-Carbon Strategy 2030. Both frameworks strive to promote cleaner transport—ultimately helping to build more resilient and competitive regions and enhancing the overall quality of life for their inhabitants.
As Morocco continues down this ambitious path, it stands poised to emerge into the new decade with one of the continent’s most modern and low-emission public transport systems, fuelled by regional leadership and supported by strategic national planning.
Tags: #Morocco #PublicTransport #Sustainability #ClimateChange #Mobility #WorldNews
