Maristany’s response has been characteristically technical. He has pushed for the accelerated renovation of metro ventilation systems and lobbied for a state-funded reduction in ticket prices. Under his leadership, TMB has also accelerated its transition to a zero-emission bus fleet, aiming to have all buses electric or hydrogen-powered by 2035. Even as he focuses on mobility, Maristany remains deeply involved in housing policy. He is a vocal proponent of the Right to Housing Law passed by the Spanish national government. He argues that without strict rent control and public investment, no amount of transport investment will solve Barcelona’s core problem: people being forced to live an hour away from their jobs because they cannot afford the city center.
He faced fierce opposition from business associations, delivery drivers, and some residents who feared gridlock. In countless interviews, Maristany deployed his engineering calm. He would pull out data showing that 60% of public space was dedicated to cars, which moved only 20% of the population. His argument was simple: this is not an aesthetic choice; it is a mathematical and public health necessity. jaime maristany
He has controversially suggested that large infrastructure projects (like metro extensions) must be paired with "anti-speculation agreements" to ensure that new stations don’t simply drive up land prices and displace existing communities. Maristany is not without his detractors. Opposition parties, particularly the center-right Junts per Catalunya and the liberal Ciutadans, accuse him of "urbanism of prohibition"—using the superblock to punish drivers rather than improve mobility. They point to traffic snarls in the Eixample and argue that his policies hurt local delivery businesses and taxi drivers. Maristany’s response has been characteristically technical
As the Deputy Mayor for Mobility, Transport, and Sustainability under Mayor Ada Colau (2019–2023), Maristany was the public face of the plan to build 21 new superblocks across the city’s Eixample district. Even as he focuses on mobility, Maristany remains
In the complex ecosystem of Barcelona’s city government, where political coalitions often blend ideological activism with technical governance, Jaime Maristany stands out as a distinctive figure. A civil engineer by training and a politician by conviction, Maristany has become one of the most influential—and occasionally controversial—voices in the city’s transformation over the last half-decade.
Furthermore, his tenure at TMB has seen labor tensions. Unions have accused management of understaffing, leading to overcrowding and safety concerns. Maristany has responded by emphasizing that automation and efficiency are necessary to keep the system solvent, a position that puts him at odds with some of his left-wing allies. What defines Jaime Maristany is his ability to translate radical goals into bureaucratic language. He is a politician who will cite engineering standards and EU funding regulations in the same breath as social justice manifestos. In an era of polarized soundbites, he is known for long, data-dense PowerPoint presentations.