TRAC 2026: Meet Team Mexico City – Introduce Yourself to the Community

Connections & celebrations
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Hi everyone!

TRAC 2026 is kicking off in just 4 days (check the kick-off post here), so I believe it’s the perfect time to introduce ourselves.

TRAC Team Mexico City - In the background, a city skyline, with stylized intersecting streets in front. On the right, a group of Local Guides holds a compass.
TRAC Team Mexico City - In the background, a city skyline, with stylized intersecting streets in front. On the right, a group of Local Guides holds a compass.1920×1080 529 KB

:bust_in_silhouette: About Me (and why I love roads)

As the designated Team Leader for TRAC Team Mexico City, I’ll break the ice. Some of you might have seen me around Connect over the years: my name is Ermes, I joined this community nearly 10 years ago, and I’ve been a Community Moderator since 2017 and a “Roader” since 2021.

I was actually one of the first to use the Road Editor for desktop back in the autumn of 2021. I loved the experience so much that I had to share it with the community: Roads for everyone - helping others with the new Road Editor.

Since then, I’ve added approximately 93K roads to Google Maps. Over the years, I’ve watched the program evolve and shared my findings so that those starting after me could benefit from my experience.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: If you are just starting out, I highly recommend reading: 3000 and counting: My tips for adding roads in Google Maps.

:world_map: Why mapping roads matters to me

While I’m proud of every road I’ve added, some have a special meaning. I’m talking about the roads added in the Italian “newtowns” built after the 2016 earthquake. I dedicated a post to this project: Mapping for Good - New roads in the Earthquake area of Italy.

The term “Roader”, which we now commonly use on Connect, actually comes from a post I wrote a couple of years ago: Roaders at work: the hidden heroes of Google Maps. We are often “unsung heroes,” but the best reward is knowing that, thanks to our tireless work, someone today can be guided by Maps to a place that previously didn’t “exist” on the map.

:taco: Our Team: Mexico City

Don’t let the name fool you—we aren’t exclusively a Mexican team (though we do have members living there!). As explained by Shola:

Our team is a mix of highly experienced members and newcomers ready to prove themselves. We are from 15 different countries in 5 continents, and we are all incredibly motivated!

I know this year’s campaign will be challenging: approval criteria have changed, and getting roads approved will be harder. But I want to say this especially to our new members: don’t let this discourage you. On the contrary, let’s use it as motivation to be even more precise and professional.

:microphone: Now it’s YOUR turn!

I’m handing the floor over to my team so they can introduce themselves. Team members, please tell us:

  1. Who are you?
  2. What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026?
  3. What is your personal goal for this challenge?

I also want to wish the best of luck to all the other teams. I’m certain that together we will do a fantastic job.

Over to you, Team Mexico City!

@glosings0n @shaileno @ALG87 @JuanEHdzVqz @BaludraKrishna @LightRich @LuigiZ @Maximilianozalazar @MoscowMani @MrFreez @OssianLore @Sisakumar @SUNIQBALTube @Steve_UK @TerryPG @Eurasia @GolamAgam @Kaegide @mahatokoushik623 @MasumKazi @palmad1 @sumanbd

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Kick off post TRAC 2026-Let's Begin🙋
The Faces of Team Dublin - TRAC 2026
Kick off post TRAC 2026-Let's Begin🙋
The Faces of Team Dublin - TRAC 2026
TRAC 2026 --- Meet Team Singapore!
💜 TracHERs – A new women’s team for TRAC
💙 Thank You, Team Dublin Every Road Mattered🛣️
TRAC 2026 --- Meet Team Singapore!
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Congratulations on your 10 years @ErmesT. Have you moved to Mexico or is my reading between the lines gone way off the road track?

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Haha, @AdamGT

Nope, I haven’t.

This year, we named the teams after Connect Live locations, and the names were assigned randomly. So, even though I’m going to Dublin, my team is called Mexico City.

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Incredibly inspiring to know about your journey as a roader @ErmesT I’m sure your guidance and knowledge would prove to be invaluable to everyone in Team Mexico. My best wishes to everyone for this TRAC campaign 2026.

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Thanks for mic. :microphone: dearest @ErmesT sir​:handshake:

People find locations on Maps, and I find the ‘Hidden Gems’ behind locations.
I’m Shailendra level10 LocalGuide Ghaziabad-india The Navigator Finder :magnifying_glass_tilted_left:
What began as a student hobby of discovering and sharing hidden, unheard-of places with friends has now grown into my journey as an experienced Local Guide (since 2017) and an active member of the Connect community (since 2023) on .
My mission is to bring hidden gems to the world while improving maps with a strong focus on accessibility and sustainability. I aim to stay actively involved with TRAC and meaningful community initiatives—because for me, every path leads to a new discovery! :rocket:
Thanks :folded_hands:

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Great post @ErmesT . Really, your posts are very informative, helpful and guide us in a positive way. Wish you all the best for your Connect Live Event at Dublin :clap::+1:

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-Hola soy maximiliano de Argentina :argentina:
-Este año lo que más me gusta del Track es ver a todos los miembros activos y ya ser parte del Connect Live México 2026, es un gran honor formar parte de este grupo​:+1:.

  • Me entusiasma ver los resultados de la nueva sección de Track donde están las mujeres… Quien tendrá más resultados?
    @Cecilita está llevando una tarea monumental :argentina::100:
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Hello @ErmesT, Thank you for this post. It’s inspiring to know about your contributions as a roader and your valuable posts on Connect about road editing. Congratulations on leading Team Mexico City.

Who are you?
My name is Prasad, India (Connect ID: @PrasadVR, Google Maps ID: MapTrailblazer, LG Level-10). I have been part of TRAC since 2023 and continued in 2024 and 2025. In TRAC 2025, I had the opportunity to lead the SEEKERS team, and I thank Captain @SholaIB for trusting me with that responsibility. I also encouraged and supported many new LGs to join this year’s TRAC campaign. I am happy to be part of Team Mexico City and to work alongside you.

What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026?
I truly believe that as a team, we can achieve amazing results. I truly enjoy adding new roads and helping make Google Maps more useful for everyone.

What is your personal goal for this challenge?
My goal for TRAC 2026 is to support my teammates, motivate new local guides to join TRAC, and make a positive impact through my road edits.

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Saludos a todos y muchas gracias a @ErmesT por publicar este post!

Por supuesto que soy el más feliz porque fui asignado al #TeamMexicoCity, pues es mi ciudad, y no se si debo agradecer a @SholaIB, @MarcoDavoli,o al azar por asignarme en este equipo.

  • Who are you?
    Mi nombre es Ricardo, pero mis amigos me llaman Buzz y estoy ubicado en la Ciudad de México (CDMX). Soy fan de los mapas desde que los usábamos en papel y durante un tiempo realicé contribuciones en Map Maker, mucho antes de que existiera la posibilidad de contribuir en Google Maps. Actualmente soy nivel 9 y desde 2020 comencé a estar activo en Connect y a organizar meetups presenciales y virtuales junto a mis amigos del #TeamTacos.

Soy también Connect Moderator desde 2021 y estoy feliz de que CDMX sea una de las sedes para #ConnectLIVE 2026.

  • What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026?
    Fuí parte de la campaña TRAC 2025 y me concentré en agregar caminos en diferentes ciudades de mi país. Durante los tres meses de la campaña del año pasado, pude agregar casi 3,000 caminos que me ayudaron a llegar al nivel 9 en el programa.

  • What is your personal goal for this challenge?
    En esta campaña voy seguir concentrado en agregar caminos en mi país y estoy seguro que la campaña TRAC 2026 me ayudará a llegar al nivel 10 del programa.

Estoy seguro que todos disfrutaremos mucho de esta iniciativa y juntos ayudaremos a tener un mapa mas actualizado ¡un camino a la vez!

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Thankyou our team leader @ErmesT ji , for giving a introduce session….

:one: Who are you?
:right_anger_bubble:I’m Koushik Mahato (@mahatokoushik623*) from India. I’m a Local Guide who enjoys improving Google Maps by adding roads and making map update…*

:two: What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026 ?

:right_anger_bubble:Sometimes I couldn’t even find proper routes. Then I realized many places still didn’t have roads mapped, so I began adding them to help others. And I believe if we all work together as a team, this journey will be even more enjoyable and interesting.

:three: What is your personal goal for this challenge?
:right_anger_bubble:My goal is to add roads in remote and less-developed areas where roads are still missing. I want to work detailed, accurate mapping to improve overall coverage and help more people navigate easily…

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Hi everyone and especially our Team Leader @ErmesT!

I’m Glenn (ALG87) from Indonesia :indonesia:. I have a passion for editing information, and over the past year, I have been involving with the TRAC team on road editing. I began my involvement with TORM 2025 using Road Mapper and have since progressed to adding roads directly through Google Maps.

Indonesia is a developing country that faces many navigation challenges. The TRAC team has been an important catalyst for me, encouraging me to try new ways to fix these issues (starting with the streets in my own neighborhood). My personal goal is to improve navigation quality across Indonesia and support not only my teammates but also other Local Guides from Indonesia involved in TRAC 2026.

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Thanks @ErmesT for the post, and great to see you looking after this team this year.

Who are you?
Local Guide from UK, I prefer edits, roads, facts and that sort of thing rather than photos and reviews.

What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026?
I like adding roads, and I think the TRAC and other roader projects are fun and actually achieve something. Unfortunately it’s down to Google Maps team to ultimately decide how effective the campaign is or not.

What is your personal goal for this challenge?
I have time and motivation, but only so much. If the approval rate is garbage then I cannot relentlessly submit, I work full time and life is too short.

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Great Starting Point @ErmesT It’s great to have an experienced Road Mapper like you leading the team.

  • Who are you?
    My name is Terry and I am a level 10 guide from Ajax, Ontario Canada. For the first 4 years of my Local Guides Program, I added only photos and was very successful with that. Then in 2024 I entered the TRAC campaign for adding roads and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have since broadened my contributions by adding edits and in the last 2 years my passion has been videos.

  • What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026 ?
    I am excited about adding roads again and I hope I can help some new roaders on getting started

What is your personal goal for this challenge?
One road at a time and we will see where it leads.

GO Team Mexico City

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Wishing all the incredible teams the very best for the TRAC 2026 campaign! A big thanks to @ErmesT for starting the trend of team introductions.

Congratulations and best wishes Team Mexico! :tada:

And now, here’s a spotlight on Team Dublin!

The Faces of Team Dublin - TRAC 2026

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Wow, what an incredible journey :fire:

Who are you?

Hi @ErmesT , My Name is Masum Kazi. I am from Bangladesh. I love to explore and contribute to Google Maps during my free time.

What motivates you to participate in TRAC 2026?

I never participated in any TRAC thats the main reason to participate in TRAC 2026. Also i want to make myself active in this Connect platform.

What is your personal goal for this challenge?

I want to add as many roads as possible to the maps.

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Hi everyone! :waving_hand:

Thank you @ErmesT for the warm introduction and inspiring words :raising_hands:

I’m @BaludraKrishna from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Bharat (India) :india:

I’m proud to be part of Team Mexico City for TRAC 2026!

So far, I’ve added 300+ roads to Google Maps, and every single road gives me happiness because I know it helps someone reach their destination safely and easily. For me, mapping roads is not just editing—it’s service to society. :motorway:

:globe_showing_europe_africa: What motivates me?

Living in India, especially in growing cities and rural areas, I’ve seen many new layouts and small roads that are missing on Maps. When roads are not mapped, people struggle with navigation, deliveries get delayed, and emergency services face difficulty. That motivates me to contribute more accurately and responsibly.

:bullseye: My goal for TRAC 2026

Improve my road approval rate

Add quality roads with proper alignment

Learn from experienced Roaders like @ErmesT and teammates

Cross 1,000+ total roads soon :flexed_biceps:

I’m excited to learn, contribute, and grow with all of you. Let’s map with precision and make a real impact together! :rocket:

Best wishes to all teams!

Let’s do our best, Team Mexico City! :globe_showing_americas::sparkles:

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I love the high-energy spirit. I although I’m not part of this awesome initiative, I love the concept. I’m just over the border in Texas, and will be participating in the Mexico City Connect Live, looking forward to reading more about Team Mexico. Great job @ErmesT and Team!

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Hello everyone,

Thank you for the warm welcome, @ErmesT! It is an absolute honor to be part of Team Mexico City. I’ve been following your journey and your “Roaders” insights for a while, so being under your leadership for TRAC 2026 is a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best. :folded_hands:

Who am I? I’m @palmad1 (Madhukar), a Level 10 Local Guide based in Hyderabad, India. While I’ve been a Local Guide for over a decade and joined Connect back in 2019, my participation used to be limited to just a few weeks a year. However, I recently rediscovered my passion and have become much more active on the forum again.

My journey began with simply adding missing places or basic photos without much thought. But as I grew, my focus shifted toward the details that matter most. From correcting store hours and addresses to adjusting map markers and accessibility info, I now prioritize helping others navigate their world with ease. I’ve learned that while millions of views are exciting, the most helpful contribution is often a clear storefront photo or a missing location that helps just one person find exactly what they need.

While I enjoy many aspects of the program, I developed a real passion for road mapping after participating in TORM 2025 last October—even though I’ve actually had Road Mapper access since 2021!

What motivates me to participate in TRAC 2026? To me, mapping roads is about more than just drawing lines; it’s about providing that “last mile” of connection. As @ErmesT mentioned, there is a unique fulfillment in making a place “exist” on the map for the first time.

My personal goal for this challenge? My primary goal is to contribute consistently to our team’s success while maintaining a high approval rating. I want to ensure that every road I submit is precise and professional.

I’m looking forward to collaborating with all of you from across the globe. Let’s make this an impactful year for the community! :handshake: :blush:

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Congratulations to team Mexico, Lets make this happen.

Happy TRAC 2026

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I’m based in Glasgow, Scotland, which is where I focus most of my edits. I started mapping some time before 2014, so long ago now I forget the exact year, to make improvements to the map of my city in time for a large international sporting event that year, and I’ve just kept going since.

I focus on detail and quality of mapping so I’ve spent the past month editing existing roads into alignment in preparation for TRAC, happily with enough of them now approved that I should be able to “attack” a few areas in badly need of attention and rack up some figures for the campaign’s total.

I’ve no particular goal beyond that for TRAC, if I do have one it’s to add to the collective success and give a boost to everyone’s hard work :slight_smile:

(Apologies for not seeing this sooner @ErmesT )