Morocco
Casablanca
UMR Index Rank
#68
(-4)
Score: 27%
Sustainable Mobility
#54
(-2)
Score: 37.0%
Public Transit
#66
(-3)
Score: 27.4%
Technology Adoption
#70
Score: 8.8%
| Population | 4.2 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 469 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 9,008 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 6,939 |
UMR Index Rank
#68
(-4)
Score: 27%
Sustainable Mobility
#54
(-2)
Score: 37.0%
Public Transit
#66
(-3)
Score: 27.4%
Technology Adoption
#70
Score: 8.8%
What Casablanca Does Well In Urban Mobility
Casablanca has high rates of pedestrian travel. Recent estimates found that more than 60% of trips in the city are made by foot, a share that has since increased. The city has a variety of transport modes and is improving its public transport infrastructure. In September 2024, it opened two new tram lines, increasing the size of its tram network by more than half. Casablanca also inaugurated its first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system with dedicated bus lanes for faster commutes. The BRT is expected to reduce public transit times from the neighborhoods Ain Chock, Salmia, and Arrahma to the city center. The city also plans to expand urban rail services by increasing service frequency within the city and improving connectivity with neighboring suburbs and municipalities Bouskoura, Mohammedia, Nouaceur, and Zenata.
Casablanca has a good traffic- management system, on par with cities like Doha and Riyadh. For example, the city’s roads have changeable message signs and coordinated traffic lights at arterials.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Casablanca’s Transportation System
Despite its good traffic-management system, Casablanca has unsafe and poor-quality roads. Morocco created the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) in 2018 and is implementing a road safety strategy. NARSA’s objective is to decrease road deaths by 50% between 2015 and 2026. Still, fatalities remain high in Casablanca, with speed limits outside of residential areas higher than in other cities, at 60 kilometers per hour. Some companies are trying to tackle the issue with a mobile-based road safety course to teach driving skills.
Casablanca’s infrastructure and services for moving goods into and around the city is subpar, leading to low efficiency in the supply chain. Casablanca’s port, the second largest in Morocco, will benefit from the country’s 2030 National Port Strategy, which aims at doubling the port’s capacity to 3,300,000 containers annually, and reducing port congestion.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Casablanca Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
To improve its subpar pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, the city can expand and better maintain pedestrian walkways and bike lanes, and add safety features such as buffers to protect walkers and cyclists from vehicles. The city also can create a bike-share program, taking inspiration from the experiences of Marrakesh. As part of this effort, Casablanca can invest more in e-bikes to help overcome some of the challenges of cycling in a hot climate.
To improve its supply-chain infrastructure, services, and efficiency, Casablanca can invest more in maintaining and upgrading transportation routes. It can facilitate the movement of goods by sea, roads, or rail. The city also can facilitate the implementation of proximity distribution with warehouses on the periphery and dispatching nodes in the center. Casablanca can consider private-public partnerships and provide incentives for businesses that invest in local infrastructure and services.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley