City Hall announces VLTzation of BRT, with replacement of buses and implementation of VLT between Botafogo and Gávea

Mayor Eduardo Paes announced this Thursday (7/7) the implementation of the BRT system within the city's road infrastructure. Over the course of 15 years, the City Hall will replace the vehicles on the BRT's Transcarioca and Transoeste corridors with the Light Rail Vehicle system. And, starting next year, the city will begin implementing the VLT system connecting the Botafogo subway to Gávea.

With the VLTzation, the city will have a total of 251 km of tracks and will have the largest system in the Americas. Today, there are 28 km in the Center and Porto Maravilha. This project is only viable because of the investment made in the implementation of the BRT system infrastructure. Since the entire road system has already been built, the City Hall will no longer spend what has already been invested: R$4,5 billion in Transcarioca and R$2,5 billion in Transoeste.

From now on, the City Hall will invest in adapting to the new mode of transport, with tracks, trains and systems. The program will have an estimated investment of R$14,8 billion for the three new axes.

– The plan we are presenting has three premises. The first is that it is not a project for my term in office. We have to learn that investments in infrastructure in a mobility network need to go beyond governments. It is a long-term plan for which we will seek external financing. The second premise is that nothing that has been done in the BRT infrastructure will be lost. On the contrary, what has been done makes our lives easier so that this plan is feasible and viable. This helps reduce costs. Without this infrastructure already in place, this plan would not be possible. And the third is that we will not stop any of the plans already announced for the BRT. We will not stop buying buses or carrying out renovations. Everything that is planned for the BRT will be fulfilled during my term in office. We will not wait 15 years to fix the system so that the population stops suffering from the neglect that the BRT has suffered – stated Eduardo Paes.

In addition to bringing several benefits, the VLT improves the road system. It has twice the capacity of articulated buses and regular intervals; it is safer; it provides greater comfort for the user; it does not produce noise; it is sustainable and also integrated into the urban landscape.

The Botafogo/Gávea VLT connection will be made via a Public-Private Partnership, with implementation scheduled to begin in the first half of 2023. There will be 12 km of tracks and 13 stops, in addition to an Integrated Operation and Maintenance Center. Urban improvements are also planned around the route, including a solution for the drainage of Jardim Botânico Street.

The Companhia Carioca de Parcerias e Investimentos (CCPar) – formerly known as Cdurp – is leading the project in partnership with the Municipal Department of Transportation (SMTR). For the president of CCPar, Gustavo Guerrante, investing in VLT is more than a quality transportation project.

– We want to improve the quality of transportation for Rio residents and point the way for the Rio of the future. The VLT is a success story here and around the world. It is the transition to a more sustainable Rio with a mode of transportation approved by the population in the city center and the port. The latest survey showed 88% approval of the VLT.

The Secretary of Transport, Maína Celidonio, highlighted the importance of continuing to expand the city's infrastructure and sustainable mobility.

– It is important to think in the short term, moving forward with the requalification of the BRT, but also in the long term, with a mode that is more regular, less polluting and that also has greater durability.

BRT restructuring continues as planned

The City Government continues to implement actions to improve the city's BRT corridors. While planning the transition of modes, SMTR has already overcome a series of challenges: reopening of 46 stations; legal agreement with bus companies; gradual return of regular priority lines; purchase of articulated buses; bidding for the ticketing system; and system under municipal administration (Mobi-Rio);

Also on schedule are the delivery of major mobility structural projects, such as the completion of the BRT Transbrasil and Gentileza Intermodal Terminal works; the replacement of the paving of the BRT Transoeste corridor; and the record expansion of the city's cycle path network.

 

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7 July 2022

Appointments: Rio de Janeiro Partnership and Investment Company MOBI-Rio City Hall of Rio BRT system Transportation VLT VLTization