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The city government is moving forward with the modernization of bus lines and launching a new bidding process for the West Zone, Vila Isabel, and Ilha do Governador.
Published on 31/03/2026 - 15:23 | Updated
The public consultation will be open for 30 days on the website of the Municipal Department of Transportation. Art: SMTR The Rio de Janeiro City Hall is launching, this Wednesday (April 1st), the public consultation notice for the second stage of the new bidding process for the municipal bus system, the Sistema Rio. This phase will cover operations in the Bangu, Santa Cruz, Vila Isabel, and Ilha do Governador regions. The consultation will be open for 30 days on the website of the Municipal Secretariat of Transportation, allowing the public to send suggestions and contributions.
Originally scheduled for 2028, the bidding process was brought forward as part of a judicial agreement signed with the Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro and the operating consortia, accelerating the implementation of the new model.
The expectation is that the operation of buses in this second phase will begin in December of this year. Four lots will be put out to tender, which together will add more than a thousand new buses to the Rio System — a 63% increase compared to the fleet currently operating in these regions.
Fleet distribution by batch:
A1 (Santa Cruz): from 109 to 187 vehicles
C1–C2 (Bangu): from 259 to 380 vehicles
H1–I3 (Vila Isabel and Ilha do Governador): from 204 to 287 vehicles
H2 (Ilha do Governador): from 58 to 173 vehicles
The Rio System is being implemented gradually. The first phase began in the West Zone, in Campo Grande and Santa Cruz, with concession contracts signed in March of this year. In these regions, the fleet will increase from 104 to 316 buses. The first delivery will consist of 169 vehicles, with operations scheduled to begin in August, and the second, with 147, is scheduled for September.
The new bidding model represents a historic advance in the management of municipal public transport, expanding the mechanisms of control and oversight by the public authorities. Among the main innovations are remuneration per kilometer traveled, with public subsidies, and the evaluation of service quality through the Transport Performance Index (IDT), based on operational indicators. The contracts will have a duration of 10 years, except for lot A1, which will have a term of seven years.
The new fleet will be 100% brand new and accessible, with low floors in the basic vehicles, access ramps, air conditioning, temperature sensors, USB chargers, GPS integrated into the Control Center, emergency button for the driver, electronic passenger information panels, and internal security cameras.
The vehicles will also comply with the Euro VI environmental standard, capable of reducing pollutant emissions by up to 80%. The use of other technologies that utilize clean energy, such as natural gas, biomethane, and electricity, will be permitted. The operation will be monitored by intelligent transportation systems (ITS), which allow for real-time trip monitoring and greater control over the quality of service. Cash payments on board will be eliminated, with the exclusive adoption of an electronic ticketing system. Each contract will also include its own public garage.
Next stages
The bidding phases are organized by region and prioritize areas with the worst operational performance. The new model divides the city into 34 lots, expanding coverage and improving line management.
The timeline foresees phased implementation until 2028, also covering regions in the North Zone, Barra da Tijuca, Jacarepaguá, South Zone, and other areas of the city.
Improvements to buses in the West Zone
The bus system in the West Zone has been undergoing continuous improvements since December of last year, as part of the process of upgrading public transportation in the city. At that time, 100 new, more modern and comfortable vehicles with the new visual identity of the Rio System were presented, expanding operations in various neighborhoods of the region and raising the quality standard of service provided to the population.
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