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The Metropolitan BRT Terminal begins integrated operation with the lines from Nova Iguaçu and São João de Meriti.
Published on 01/05/2026 - 12:47 | Updated
Initiative saves time and money for passengers who use public transport daily to different regions - Iago Campos The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavaliere, accompanied this Friday (May 1st), Labor Day, the operation to expand integration at the Metropolitan BRT Terminal, at the Trevo das Margaridas, in Irajá. In addition to the lines from Mesquita that already use the terminal, now lines originating in Nova Iguaçu and São João de Meriti will also operate there.
In this first phase, ten intercity bus lines will be integrated, allowing for operational adjustments and monitoring of demand. This joint initiative of the State and Municipal Transportation Secretariats and Detro/RJ strengthens the connection between the Baixada Fluminense region and Rio de Janeiro, benefiting thousands of passengers who use public transportation daily to access different areas of the capital. The mayor took the inaugural trip to the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal and continued by light rail (VLT) to the Colombo station in the city center. He highlighted the importance of the service:
"The people of Rio will be able to go to Nova Iguaçu more easily now, they will be able to go to Mesquita, to São João de Meriti. Saving time, saving money, means more time for the family, more time to go to church, more time to have a barbecue, more time to be with the children, to be with the wife, to be with the husband. So, it's a very important moment for the working population of Rio, for the working population of Baixada. I extend my invitation: that the working people of Nova Iguaçu, Mesquita and São João come and use the BRT, come to the Margaridas Terminal and see the difference it will make to use the brand new, cool BRT, with predictability, with USB cables to charge cell phones, with comfort in everyday life," said Cavaliere.
Passengers will now benefit from 20-minute intervals on intercity buses in the Baixada Fluminense region. The round-trip BRT service between the Metropolitan BRT Terminal and the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal operates with an average interval of three minutes. Currently, about 60% of Baixada residents work in Rio every day. Located at a strategic point of integration between Baixada and the capital, the Metropolitan BRT Terminal strengthens access to the Transbrasil BRT system and offers a more efficient alternative for commuting. The use of the exclusive bus lane ensures greater punctuality, while the new fleet with air conditioning provides more comfort and a better quality of journey.
Also present, the municipal secretary of transportation, Jorge Arraes, highlighted, among the benefits for the worker, the reduction in travel time on the way home.
"The main thing, in my view, is the return of the tired worker, who will be able to arrive home an hour, an hour and a half earlier. On the symbolic day of May 1st, being able to offer a quality service, with predictability, at a cheaper fare, is truly a gift," he said.
The mayor of São João de Meriti, Léo Vieira, also accompanied the first day of the operation:
"From the Metropolitan Terminal to Gentileza, it takes 20 minutes. There's no other transportation to downtown Rio that will take that long. So, the issue isn't just financial. It's also a matter of time and comfort. I'm sure it will work well. What we want is peace of mind for residents and workers," he emphasized.
New numbering system for intercity bus lines.
The reorganization of intercity bus lines serving the Baixada Fluminense region has brought changes to the numbering and final destination of some services, focusing on integration with the BRT at the Metropolitan Terminal, at the Trevo das Margaridas interchange in Irajá. Four lines originating in Nova Iguaçu (113B, 114B, 118B, and 479I) will now operate with new numbering and a new final stop at the terminal, being identified, respectively, as 613I, 614I, 618I, and 579I. Similarly, three lines from São João de Meriti (474B, 512B, and 514B) have been renumbered to 674I, 518I, and 519I. All these lines now terminate at the Pedro Fernandes Metropolitan BRT Terminal, allowing passengers to integrate with the BRT system. The change aims to make it easier to identify the services that will operate in an integrated manner and differentiate them from the lines that go directly to downtown Rio. On the other hand, lines 113B, 114B, 118B and 479I, from Nova Iguaçu, and 474B, 512B and 514B, from São João de Meriti, will continue to operate with their original numbers and traditional routes, maintaining direct service to the city center.
BRT Metropolitano X Kindness
To reinforce integration with the high-capacity system, two BRT services operate between the Metropolitan BRT Terminal and the Gentileza Intermodal Terminal: the 70 service, a local service with a journey time of approximately 32 minutes, and the 73 service, an express service with an estimated travel time of 20 minutes to the terminal. The terminal also brings together municipal bus lines that serve areas such as Vicente de Carvalho, Irajá, Vista Alegre, Pavuna, Madureira, and Méier, expanding travel options for passengers.
Margaridas Single Ticket (BUM)
The Margaridas Single Ticket (BUM) is a new fare integration option for those traveling from Baixada Fluminense to Rio de Janeiro using the Metropolitan BRT Terminal. With it, passengers pay R$ 5,00 for integration within the municipal system and can make up to four trips—two outbound and two return—between BRT, VLT, and municipal buses within a period of up to 20 hours, ensuring greater savings, comfort, and speed in their commute.
How it will work in practice
Intercity bus lines that now stop at the Margaridas Terminal have a fare of R$ 6,70 – the most affordable price set by Detro/RJ – payable using the RioCard, the state government's ticketing system. Upon disembarking at the terminal, passengers opting for the BUM (Bus Rapid Transit) system must use the JAÉ card – in its black or digital version, linked to their CPF (Brazilian tax identification number) – and access the specific turnstiles for the Metropolitan BRT. At this point, a fixed fee of R$ 5,00 will be debited, corresponding to the BUM fare integration. From this first validation on the JAÉ, the 20-hour integration period begins. Within this timeframe, passengers can use the BRT to the Gentileza Terminal and, from there, board the VLT (light rail lines 1 and 4) or one of the participating municipal lines to reach their destination without further charge. On the return trip, as long as it's still within those 20 hours, the process works the same way: the passenger uses the VLT (light rail) or municipal bus free of charge to the Gentileza Terminal, boards the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and returns to the Metropolitan BRT Terminal without paying the integration fee again. Then, they continue their journey on the intercity bus back to Baixada, paying only the R$ 6,70 fare for the intercity line, also using the RioCard.
Thus, for the round trip, the user will only pay R$ 18,40 per day: R$ 6,70 on the intercity bus to the destination + R$ 5,00 for the BUM (Bus Rapid Transit) pass + R$ 6,70 on the intercity bus to the destination. All other integration between BRT, VLT (Light Rail Transit) and municipal buses within this route will be free, provided the passenger correctly follows the operational itinerary and completes the entire trip within the 20-hour window.
Without the BUM (Bus Rapid Transit), using the integrated Intermunicipal Single Ticket (BUI) model, the same trip would cost R$ 18,80 per day. And for passengers without the BUI benefit, this amount can currently exceed R$ 40,00, and they will also benefit from the R$ 18,40 fare (round trip). With the new system, in addition to savings, passengers will have a more comfortable, faster, and more efficient journey, taking advantage of the Metropolitan BRT infrastructure and the direct connection to the Gentileza Terminal.
Mesquita proves the success of the Metropolitan BRT.
In addition to the new lines from Nova Iguaçu and São João de Meriti, the Margaridas Terminal already served three lines from Mesquita (478I, 651I, and 679I). These routes inaugurated the Metropolitan BRT and, due to the success of the operation, their hours will be extended. The Mesquita lines that operated at the terminal during off-peak hours, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, will now operate from 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM, while the other lines will operate from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
More intercity bus lines
Starting May 16th, six more intercity bus lines originating in Nova Iguaçu will begin operating with a stop at the Metropolitan BRT Terminal: 490B, 491B, 494B, 497B, 499B, and 442B.
SERVICE
Intercity bus lines that stop at the Metropolitan BRT Terminal
(Starting 5/1)
613I — Nova Iguaçu x Margaridas (via Plínio Casado)
614I — Nova Iguaçu x Margaridas (via Vila Nova)
618I — Nova Iguaçu x Margaridas
579I — Nova Iguaçu x Margaridas
674I — Praça da Bandeira (São João de Meriti) x Margaridas (via Coelho da Rocha)
518I — Praça da Bandeira (São João de Meriti) x Margaridas
519I — Eden (São João de Meriti) x Margaridas
478I — Mesquita x Margaridas (via Chatuba)
651I — Mesquita x Margaridas (via Via Light)
679I — Mesquita x Margaridas (via Edson Passos)
(Starting 5/16)
490B – Miguel Couto vs. Margaridas
491B – Austin vs. Daisies
494B – Austin vs. Daisies
497B – Miguel Couto vs. Margaridas
499B – Cabuçu x Margaridas
442B – Cabuçu x Margaridas
BRT services between Metropolitan BRT Terminal and Gentileza Terminal.
70 (parador) — Terminal BRT Metropolitano x Terminal Gentileza
73 (express) — Metropolitan BRT Terminal x Gentileza Terminal
Municipal bus lines connecting to BUM at the Gentileza Terminal.
104 – São Conrado (via Lapa/Largo do Machado/Copacabana)
109 – São Conrado (via Santa Bárbara/Jardim Botânico)
133 – Largo do Machado (via Rio Comprido/Rua Alice)
160 – Leblon (via Elevated Highway/Rebouças Tunnel/Lagoon)
161 – Ipanema (via Elevated Highway/Rebouças Tunnel/Lagoon)
162 – Alto Gávea (via Elevated Highway/Rebouças Tunnel/Botanical Garden)
164 – Leme (via Elevated Highway/Rebouças Tunnel/Old Tunnel)
165 – Cosme Velho (via Santa Bárbara Tunnel)
167 – Urca (via Flamengo Beach)
169 – General Osório (via Aterro/Copacabana)
SP265 – Marechal Hermes (via Avenida Dom Helder Câmara/Estrada do Portela)
301 – Alvorada Terminal (via Alto da Boa Vista/Avenida das Américas)
302 – Alvorada Terminal (via Alto da Boa Vista/Barra da Tijuca Beach)
353 – Gardênia Azul (via Vila Isabel/Méier/Praça Seca)
606 – Engenho de Dentro (via Tijuca/Méier)
SV606 – Engenho de Dentro (via Tijuca/Méier/Boca do Mato)
265 – Marshal Hermes x Castelo (via Dom Helder Câmara Avenue/Portela Road)
Light rail lines for BUM integration at the Gentileza Terminal.
Line 1: Gentileza Terminal x Santos Dumont Airport. Serves the Museum of Tomorrow and the port area.
Line 4: Gentileza Terminal x Praça XV. Directly connects the TIG (Intercity Bus Terminal) to Central do Brasil and the ferries at Praça XV.
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