Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station

Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station[lower-alpha 2] is a station of the Mexico City Metro in the historic center of the city, in the Cuauhtémoc borough. It is an underground station with two side platforms, served by Line 2 (the Blue Line). It lies between Allende and Pino Suárez metro stations. The station's pictogram features the coat of arms of Mexico and it receives its name from the Plaza de la Constitución, commonly known as Zócalo, Mexico City's main square located above the station. The station was opened on 14 September 1970, on the first day of the service Tasqueña–Tacuba.

Pictogram of Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station. It features the silhouette of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a snake. Zócalo/Tenochtitlan
Mexico City Metro
STC rapid transit
Signage of Zócalo/Tenochtitlan station
Station platform after station renaming, 2022
General information
LocationPlaza de la Constitución
Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City
Mexico
Coordinates19°26′00″N 99°07′58″W
Owned byGovernment of Mexico City
Operated bySistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC)
Line(s)Mexico City Metro Line 2 (Cuatro Caminos – Tasqueña)
Platforms2 side platforms
Tracks2
Connections
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessiblePartial
Other information
StatusIn service[lower-alpha 1]
History
Opened14 September 1970 (1970-09-14)
Previous namesZócalo
Passengers
202213,776,200[1] Increase 115.58%
Rank12/195[1]
Services
Preceding station Mexico City Metro Following station
Allende
toward Cuatro Caminos
 Line 2 Pino Suárez
toward Tasqueña
Location
Zócalo/Tenochtitlan is located in Mexico City
Zócalo/Tenochtitlan
Pictogram of Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station. It features the silhouette of an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a snake. Zócalo/Tenochtitlan
Location within Mexico City
Area map and exits

The station facilities are partially accessible to people with disabilities as there is an elevator; there is an Internet café, an information desk, a cultural display, a mural titled Cenefas conmemorativas del Bicentenario, and a passageway that connects with Pino Suárez station, where there is a free mini-cinema and various bookstores. In 2019, the station had an average daily ridership of 71,613 passengers, making it the tenth busiest station in the network and the third busiest of the line. The station was formerly named Zócalo metro station until August 2021, when it was renamed to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Fall of Tenochtitlan.

Location
Picture of a square and three buildings in the background. Zócalo/Tenochtitlan station's entrance is in a corner of the square.
The east entrance is located in front of the corner of National Palace (not pictured) and the Government Building of Mexico City (left).

Zócalo/Tenochtitlan is a metro station in the colonia (Mexican Spanish for "neighborhood") of Centro, otherwise known as the historic center of Mexico City. It is in the Cuauhtémoc borough and serves multiple landmarks, including Constitution Square (which is locally known as "Zócalo"), the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the archaeological remains of Tenochtitlan's main temple, Templo Mayor.[2] Within the system, the station lies between Allende and Pino Suárez metro stations.[3]

There are six exits. The first one is next to National Palace to the east, the second entrance is on the opposite side, serving Constitution Square; the third and fourth are on Pino Suárez Avenue, on the south side of the square but one is on Corregidora Street (next to the building of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation) on the southeast, while the other one is near the corner of Venustiano Carranza Street. The remaining exits serve the northern part of the square: one is next to the Metropolitan Cathedral, while the other is next to the National Palace near the corner of Moneda Street.[3] The area is serviced by the Ecobici system.[4]

Inside the station
A scale model of several Aztec pyramids and buildings.
Scale model of Tenochtitlan in 1521

Since 2009, there is a free Internet café, the first to be opened by the system.[5] There is also an information desk and multiple murals titled Cenefas conmemorativas del Bicentenario (2010), by Juan Carlos Garcés Botello and Jesús Cristóbal Flores Carmona.[3][6] There is also a cultural display managed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, where the history of Constitution Square is illustrated with a scale model.[7] The station has a corridor that connects with Pino Suárez station through an underground passageway on the south side, called Pasaje Zócalo–Pino Suárez. It was opened in 1997 and there are 42 bookstores and a free library and mini-cinema.[8][9] Originally it was a passageway created to add another station named Salvador, but it was canceled due to the proximity of both stations.[10]

History and construction

Line 2 of the Mexico City Metro was built by Ingeniería de Sistemas de Transportes Metropolitano, Electrometro and Cometro, the latter a subsidiary of Empresas ICA.[11] Zócalo metro station was built underground;[11] the Zócalo–Allende tunnel is 602 meters (1,975 ft) long, while the Zócalo–Pino Suárez stretch measures 745 meters (2,444 ft).[12]

The station was opened on 14 September 1970, on the first day of the Tasqueña–Tacuba service;[13] the facilities are partially accessible to people with disabilities as there is an elevator.[3] In 1983, Zócalo was planned to be an interchange station connecting Line 2 with Line 8, which was proposed to run from Indios Verdes to Pantitlán.[14] The project was canceled due to the lack of planning and the potential damage it would cause to historical buildings.[14] The line was later modified to run from Garibaldi to Constitución de 1917 metro stations in a line that goes under Eje Central Avenue.[15]

In December 2019, the turnstiles on the southern side were replaced with motion-sensor speed gates that avoid users from entering the station for free.[16][17]

Name and pictogram

The pictogram represents the coat of arms of Mexico, which depicts an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a snake.[3] The station was named after the main square of Mexico City, Constitution Square.[3] The term zócalo originally means "base" in architecture.[18] During the times of Antonio López de Santa Anna, it was planned to have a monument dedicated to the Mexican War of Independence at Constitution Square.[19] The sole base—an 8 m (26 ft) long and 30 cm (12 in) high pedestal—was built in 1843 but the Mexican–American War caused the cancelation of the project. The base was eventually buried and was uncovered until 2017. Because of that, zócalo has been used as a synonym for "square" or "plaza" in Mexican Spanish and its usage eventually spread throughout the country.[18]

In August 2020, authorities of the system changed the signage at the station to "Zócalo/Tenochtitlan", and they announced the modifications would be formalized in a civic ceremony.[20] The station was officially renamed on 13 August 2021 to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Fall of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire,[21] and the civil ceremony that formalized it took place on 19 August, where Puente de Alvarado Avenue and the respective Metrobús station, named after Pedro de Alvarado, were also renamed to Calzada México-Tenochtitlan and México-Tenochtitlan station, respectively.[22]

Incidents

On 29 March 1998, a drunk passenger started shooting at users, injuring a security guard who tried to stop him.[23] Due to its location, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan station is commonly closed by the authorities. It has been closed due to national security concerns,[24] the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico,[25][26][27] live events at Constitution Square,[28][29][30] and protests in the zone.[31][32] Demonstrators have vandalized the station multiple times.[33][34]

Ridership

According to the data provided by the authorities since the 2000s, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station has been one of the busiest stations of the system's 195 stations. Before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transport, commuters averaged per year between 69,100 and 72,300 daily entrances between 2013 and 2019; the station had a ridership of 26,138,960 passengers in 2019,[35] which was an increase of 108,763 passengers compared to 2018.[36] Also in 2019, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station was the tenth busiest of the system and it was the line's third busiest.[35]

Annual passenger ridership
Year Ridership Average daily Rank  % change Ref.
202213,776,20037,74312/195+115.58%[1]
20216,390,40617,50731/195−10.73%[37]
20207,158,49019,55830/195−72.61%[38]
201926,138,96071,61310/195−1.07%[35]
201826,421,13272,38610/195+3.01%[36]
201725,648,34270,26910/195−3.86%[39]
201626,678,42872,89110/195+1.71%[40]
201526,229,61671,86110/195−0.66%[41]
201426,402,60272,3559/195+4.59%[42]
201325,244,78569,16310/195+28.47%[43]

Notes
  1. Due to its location, the station is commonly closed depending on the activities occurring in the area.
  2. Estación del Metro Zócalo/Tenochtitlan. Mexican Spanish pronunciation: [ˈsokalo tenotʃˈtitlan] ⓘ. "Zócalo" means "Main square" in Mexican Spanish; for the etymology of "Tenochtitlan", a Nahuatl word, refer to Tenochtitlan § Etymology.

References
  1. "Afluencia de estación por línea 2022" [Station traffic per line 2022] (in Spanish). Sistema Transporte Colectivo Metro. 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  2. Almaraz, Karla (11 September 2017). "¿Qué hay afuera de Metro Zócalo?" [What is outside Zócalo metro station?]. máspormás (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  3. "Zócalo" (in Spanish). Sistema Transporte Colectivo Metro. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. "Mapa de disponibilidad" [Disponibility map] (in Spanish). Ecobici. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  5. "Inaugura Ebrard el primer Cibercentro gratuito en el Metro Zócalo" [Ebrard inaugurates the first free Cybercenter at Zócalo station]. Portal Político (in Spanish). 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  6. "Cenefas conmemorativas del Bicentenario" (in Spanish). Sistema Transporte Colectivo Metro. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  7. "Zócalo/Tenochtitlan: Metro de la CDMX cambiaría el nombre de una icónica estación" [Zócalo/Tenochtitlan: Mexico City Metro will change the name of iconic station]. Infobae (in Spanish). 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  8. Blancarte, José Luis (23 February 2011). "En estación del Metro, la librería más grande de AL" [Inside metro station, the largest bookstore of LA]. Ciudadanía Express (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. García Hernández, Arturo (15 April 2010). "El pasaje Zócalo-Pino Suárez se suma a la celebración por el Día Mundial del Libro" [The Zócalo-Pino Suárez passage joins the World Book Day celebration]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  10. "Estaciones no construídas del Metro" [Unbuilt Metro stations]. Chilango (in Spanish). 27 July 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  11. "Línea 2, Ciudad de México" [Line 2, Mexico City] (in Spanish). iNGENET Infraestructura. 20 July 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. "Longitud de estación a estación por línea" [Station-to-station length per line] (in Spanish). Sistema de Transporte Colectivo Metro. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. Bátiz V, Bernardo (24 May 2021). "La torre de Villa de Cortés" [The tower of Villa de Cortés]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  14. Sánchez Vázquez, Ma. de Jesús; Mena Cruz, Alberto; Carballal Staedtler, Margarita (2010). "Investigación Arqueológica en la Construcción del Metro" [Archaeological Research in the Construction of the Metro] (PDF) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. Sarabia, Dalila (2 September 2019). "El Metro arqueólogo" [Metro, the archeologist]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. Hernández, Eduardo (23 December 2019). "Nuevos torniquetes en el Metro" [New turnstiles in the Metro]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  17. Enríquez, Daniela (23 December 2019). "Cambian en Metro Zócalo torniquetes por puertas de cristal" [Turnstiles replaced with crystal doors in Zócalo metro station]. El Sol de México (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  18. "Zócalo: la curiosa historia de por qué se le llama así a las plazas principales de ciudades y pueblos en México" [Zócalo: the curious history of why the main squares of cities and towns in Mexico are called that way]. BBC News (in Spanish). 6 September 2019. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  19. "Zócalo, Universidad y Ecatepec: todo lo que querías saber sobre los íconos del metro de la CDMX" [Zócalo, Universidad and Ecatepec: all you wanted to know about the icons of the Mexico City Metro]. Infobae (in Spanish). 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  20. Stettin, Cinthya (26 August 2021). "¿Metro Zócalo-Tenochtitlan? Aseguran que cambiarán nombre de estación de L2" [Zócalo-Tenochtitlan station? Name change of L2 station is assured]. Milenio (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  21. Pantoja, Sara (14 July 2021). "La estación Zócalo del Metro cambiará de nombre a partir de esta fecha" [Zócalo metro station will be renamed after this date]. Proceso. Mexico City. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  22. Cruz, Alejandro (19 August 2021). "Cambian nombre a Puente de Alvarado por Calzada México-Tenochtitlan" [Puente de Alvarado is renamed to Calzada México-Tenochtitlan]. La Jornada. Mexico City. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  23. Nájar, Alberto (10 May 1998). "Todo el Metro" [All about the Metro]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  24. Hernández, Eduardo (6 June 2021). "Cierran lunes y martes Metro Zócalo por reunión de AMLO y Kamala Harris" [Monday and Tuesday, Zócalo metro station closes due to reunion between AMLO and Kamala Harris]. El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  25. Mendoza, Janayna (7 December 2020). "Metro de CdMx cerrará estaciones Zócalo y Allende como medida ante covid-19" [CDMX Metro will close Zócalo and Allende stations against COVID-19]. Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  26. "Metro capitalino cierra la estación Zócalo hasta nuevo aviso" [Mexico City Metro closes Zócalo station until further notice]. Proyecto 40 (in Spanish). 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  27. "Cierran acceso al Zócalo de la CDMX por Covid-19" [Mexico City's Zócalo access closed due to COVID-19]. Periódico Viaje (in Spanish). 2 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  28. "Cierran estación Zócalo del Metro por desfile de Día de Muertos" [Zócalo metro station closed due to Day of the Dead Parade]. Excélsior. Mexico City. 27 October 2018. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  29. Notimex (14 September 2017). "Cerrarán Metro Zócalo durante Fiestas Patrias" [Zócalo metro station will close during the Patriotic Holidays]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020.
  30. "Cierran estación Zócalo 4 y 5 de marzo" [Zócalo station closes on 4 and 5 March]. unomásuno (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  31. Ángeles Rivero, María del Rocío (31 July 2020). "Cierran estación Zócalo de la Línea 2 del Metro por manifestantes" [Line 2 Zócalo metro station closed due to demonstrators]. Noticieros Televisa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  32. "Cierran estación Zócalo del Metro en #8M" [Zócalo metro station closed on #8M]. Excélsior. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  33. Ángeles Rivero, María del Rocío (26 September 2019). "Cierran estación Zócalo del Metro por actos vandálicos en marcha por Ayotzinapa" [Zócalo metro station closed due to vandalism during Ayotzinapa protests]. Noticieros Televisa. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  34. Corona, Salvador (13 May 2021). "Torniquetes y lectores de las Líneas 1, 2 y B, inservibles" [Lines 1, 2 and B's turnstiles and card readers are unusable]. El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
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  40. "Afluencia de estación por línea 2016" [Station traffic per line 2016] (in Spanish). Sistema Transporte Colectivo Metro. 2017. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
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