Intergovernmental cooperation in the urban mobility policy: the case of the ABC Intermunicipal Consortium

Abstract This article presents the intergovernmental relations coordinated by the Grande ABC Intermunicipal Consortium for the mobility policy of the ABC region in the state of São Paulo, identifying the roles of governmental and non-governmental actors, particularly the consortium itself, in its development. The main investigated question was: how has this Intermunicipal Consortium articulated forces to promote the development of the urban mobility policy in the region? A qualitative research was carried out through the analysis of the minutes of the “Urban Mobility” Working Group and of the Mayors Assemblies held from 2010 to 2013. Other relevant documents produced by the Consortium were also considered. In addition to this, key actors in the regional urban mobility policy were interviewed. The article demonstrates how the initial municipal actions – marked by the development of specific projects and little ‘regional’ attention – were modified as a consequence of the institutionalization of the “Urban Mobility” Working Group. Such an achievement was due to the ability of the Consortium to promote cooperative and regionally joint actions that took into account the institutional constraints of each municipality. Moreover, the article shows that the Consortium became a regional articulator before the state and federal governments, what was crucial for obtaining resources for various projects, especially the ones concerning urban mobility policy.