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In three years, the BRT system saw a 180% increase in the number of passengers transported
Published on 15/05/2024 - 13:56 | Updated on 15/05/2024 - 15:42
Two new BRT connecting lines began operating in September, in the West Zone - Fábio Motta/ Rio City Hall The Rio de Janeiro City Hall's intervention in the BRT system completed three years at the end of March. Since the city government took over management, there has been a 180% increase in the number of passengers transported and a reduction of up to 72% in trip intervals on high-capacity corridors. The intervention resulted in the total renewal of the articulated bus fleet, the renovation of all stations, the implementation of safety measures, the repair of the pavement on the Transoeste corridor and the delivery of the works on the Transbrasil corridor and the Gentileza and Deodoro Terminals, ensuring robust improvements for the population that uses the high-capacity transport service daily.
Formalized by decree on March 23, 2021, the intervention of the City of Rio in the private company BRT S/A, the concessionaire that operated the system, was followed by a series of measures to requalify the service provided to the population. Three years later, the numbers reflect a new reality for those who use the system. With the new fleet of articulated buses, renovated stations and greater security, passengers have come to trust the BRT again. When the City of Rio took over municipal management of the BRT, the average daily number of passengers was 150. Today, there are around 420, an increase of 180%.
Before the intervention, the system had 120 buses in operation on the three corridors. Currently, the new fleet is more than four times larger: 515 brand new yellow buses in operation. The entire fleet purchased for the system totals 713 buses. With more buses in circulation, passengers are waiting less time at stations. On the Nova Transoeste, the last corridor to receive the new Euro 6 buses, with less polluting technology, the reduction in headways during peak hours was up to 72%. On the Transcarioca, the rate was 59%, and on the Transolímpica, 63%.
When the City took over the BRT System, it also found 46 stations closed due to vandalism and equipment theft. At the end of 2021, these stations were renovated and reopened. Currently, all 120 stations in the system have been revitalized, bringing more comfort to passengers.
Mobi-Rio: mission to operate and requalify the system
In December 2021, Mobi-Rio was created, a municipal public company that began to manage the BRT system. The mission is to requalify the mode, recover the articulated buses and stations, and restore credibility to the system. Since then, 4.040 hires have been made, resulting in a current workforce of 3.129 employees, of which 1.505 are drivers.
Four new terminals in Transoeste
The requalification of the BRT System is in full swing, investing in the transformation of four stations in the Transoeste corridor into terminals: Mato Alto, Pingo D´Água, Curral Falso and Magarça. The latter was handed over to the population at the end of March. A new module was connected to the existing one and a new feeder terminal for buses and vans coming from Estrada do Magarça was installed. An exclusive parking lot for 250 bicycles was also built.
Investments in the four new terminals exceed R$180 million. These deliveries are the last works of the requalification.
First corridor, Transoeste is fully recovered
In December 2023, the City of Rio delivered a new Transoeste to the people of Rio. 31 kilometers of the BRT track were revitalized, replacing the asphalt pavement with concrete. The work took place on the track from the Alvorada Terminal, in Barra da Tijuca, to the Vice-Presidente José Alencar tunnel, in Grota Funda; continuing after the tunnel exit towards the future Pingo D'Água Terminal, in Guaratiba. The investments exceeded R$221 million and the works took 18 months, generating 4.400 direct and indirect jobs.
To complete the work, 52.800 m3 of concrete were used, which would be enough to fill 28 Olympic swimming pools.
Cases of vandalism at stations have dropped by 90%
During this time, there has been a reduction in cases of vandalism on articulated buses. At the beginning of the administration, 80% of the fleet was vandalized monthly. Today, vandalism occurs on only 10%. The new buses have more robust mechanisms on the doors and hatches, do not move with the doors open and are monitored by internal cameras, including in the driver's cabin, as well as an external camera on the front window of the vehicle. In addition, passengers themselves alert the drivers, who contact the Operational Control Center and BRT Seguro agents to report acts of vandalism.
At the stations, vandalism has decreased by 90%. This reduction is due to their renovation, with the installation of mechanisms that make vandalism more difficult, such as replacing glass panels and doors with hollow steel sheets and embedded wiring; to Mobi-Rio monitoring with security cameras; and to the work of BRT Seguro.
Start of Transbrasil operations and inauguration of the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal
The start of Transbrasil operations in February and the opening of the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal expanded the range of possible road connections for passengers from Rio. With a length of 25 kilometers, 17 stations and two terminals, the corridor currently operates with three lines, every day, always from 4 am to midnight: line 60 (Gentileza Terminal x Deodoro Terminal – stop); line 61 (Gentileza Terminal x Deodoro Terminal – express); line 80 (Gentileza Terminal x Penha – stop); and line 90 (Gentileza Terminal x Fundão – stop). In addition, there is the executive service Gentileza Terminal x Galeão, without stops, which operates daily, from 6 am to midnight. It is estimated that up to 250 thousand people will be transported daily on this corridor, by 2030.
The Transbrasil corridor operates with 50 articulated buses. The intervals between journeys on line 60 are reduced to five minutes during peak hours. On lines 80 (Terminal Gentileza x Penha – stop) and 90 (Terminal Gentileza x Fundão – stop), the intervals are six minutes during peak hours.
In addition to connections with municipal bus lines and VLT at Gentileza Terminal, Transbrasil passengers can also connect to the Transolímpica corridor at Deodoro Terminal and the Transcarioca corridor at Penha and Fundão. With Transbrasil fully operational, the implementation of the BRT system in the city is consolidated, with the West Zone and Center connected by this corridor.
The interventions along Transbrasil also included the completion of 21 footbridges, 18 of which provide access to the stations, in addition to the widening of the viaducts over Estrada João Paulo, the Coelho Neto subway and the railway line in Guadalupe.
Safe BRT Program works with 400 agents per day
Responsible for patrolling buses, stations and terminals of the BRT system with the presence of agents from the Military Police and Municipal Guard, the BRT Seguro Program, from the Public Order Department, launched in June 2021, has already made more than 3.300 arrests for robbery, theft, vandalism, contempt and sexual harassment. More than 17.650 fines have also been issued for defaulting on payments. Currently, 400 agents work on the program per day.
