The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) in the state recommended analyzing a different location for the Mexico City-Querétaro train’s express stop in the Los Alcanfores area, due to increased traffic, risks to air quality, and damage to the park and its urban trees.
According to Official Letter No. SRA/DGIRA/DG-03067-25, issued on May 22, 2025, by the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk of the Undersecretariat of Environmental Regulation and published on the Federal Government’s “Proyectos México” website in the section corresponding to the Mexico-Querétaro Train, which the Diario de Querétaro newspaper accessed, the agency refers to the “Environmental Opinion” issued by the Querétaro state representation. This opinion stated that the station planned for the municipality of Querétaro, projected within Alcanfores Park in the Historic Center district, is fully included in Environmental Management Unit (UGA) 100 of the POEREQ (Querétaro Regional Development Plan), which has an Urban Development environmental policy.
“In accordance with the provisions of strategy EDU04: Utilization of vacant spaces and urban densification for the optimal use of existing urban infrastructure and equipment within population centers, it is suggested that other location options be considered for the proposed station in the Municipality of Querétaro. These options should take into account parking spaces, vehicular traffic, and the environmental impacts associated with the conservation and compensation of urban vegetation, so that the chosen location has the least environmental impact. This is a fundamental purpose of infrastructure planning through the environmental impact assessment system,” states the General Directorate of Environmental Impact and Risk in the report sent to them by the state office of SEMARNAT (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources).
The document also warns of potential impacts on the Los Alcanfores Park green area and the urban trees in the area where the station is planned.
The agency noted that the park has significant vegetation cover and that any intervention would contradict POEREQ’s EG09 strategy, which aims to promote the expansion of urban and peri-urban vegetation.
“The construction of the proposed station could negatively impact the green area known as ‘Parque Los Alcanfores.’ Furthermore, the station area has significant urban trees, and any disruption to these trees would contravene POEREQ’s EG09 strategy, which seeks to promote the expansion of vegetation cover in urban and peri-urban areas, and guideline LDU04, which aims to protect, conserve, and reforest urban green spaces to strengthen the environmental services of the UGA,” it warned.
It pointed out that, under this classification, guidelines related to mobility, air quality, and the conservation of green areas must be observed.
According to the official analysis, the influx of people generated by the station will cause an increase in vehicular traffic on local and secondary roads that connect to primary avenues such as Universidad and Corregidora.
The authority indicated that this situation could contravene guideline LDU02 of the POEREQ (Regional Development Plan of Querétaro), which establishes the need to promote the appropriate development of compatible uses through a proper distribution of infrastructure and services.
It added that the increased vehicular traffic could impact air quality in the city center, making it difficult to comply with guideline LDU06, which aims to maintain pollutant levels below the limits permitted by official standards.
In addition, guideline LDU04 proposes protecting, conserving, and reforesting urban green areas to strengthen the environmental services of the UGA (Urban Green Area).
The authority suggested that, in accordance with strategy EDU04, which promotes the use of vacant spaces and urban densification to optimize existing infrastructure, other location alternatives within the municipality be analyzed.
The same document states that the project includes the installation of a wildlife crossing connecting El Cimatario National Park with Peña Colorada. However, the Secretariat pointed out that both protected areas are located more than seven kilometers from the proposed station.
The agency indicated that these observations are part of the environmental analysis process that must be carried out before defining the final location of the terminal, and reiterated that the selection must be geared towards minimizing impacts and ensuring the project’s viability in accordance with current guidelines.
Source: oem
