Since the city of Xalapa has grown rapidly, the railway tracks that were once situated at the former city limit nowadays part the city. The tracks are no longer used for public transport, but are licensed to a private company, which leads freight trains to the port of Veracruz. Only a few trains per week pass by the city and the old train station has been abandoned while its surroundings lacks in maintenance and activity. As a result, citizens feel insecure and try to avoid the area. Crossing the tracks can be dangerous and standing trains serve as hiding places for criminals. What was once a vibrant and lively place while passenger trains still existed, has now turned into a deserted place. By implementing the participatory methodology of the ’Urban Design Laboratory‘ for a period of three months, the program has generated a proposal for an integral urbanistic revitalization of the area of the old train station in Xalapa.
Project author:
Lisa Mittelberger, Andreas Hofer, Roland Krebs
