2026 Elections: Rio will have free public transportation and traffic restrictions.

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall has set up a special traffic and transportation plan for this Sunday (October 4th), the date of the first round of voting in the 2026 Elections. As requested by the Regional Electoral Court (TRE), road closures will be implemented in different areas of the city to support the activities of the Electoral Court.

The Competitive Cycling Protection Area (APCC) – Marcos Hama Circuit and recreational areas throughout the municipality will be closed. All of CET-Rio's personnel, more than 500 people, will be mobilized to help ensure smooth traffic flow on routes leading to polling places.

Specific traffic light plans will be adopted on the main traffic corridors. Technicians from CET-Rio, at the Operations and Resilience Center (COR-Rio), will monitor traffic flow through cameras and, if necessary, make adjustments to the signal programming to maintain good road conditions.

CET-Rio recommends that drivers pay attention to signage and instructions from traffic officers and, if possible, anticipate their journeys. The advice is to prioritize public transportation and cross the street at safe and well-marked locations.

Free municipal transport

The Municipal Transportation Department informs that municipal public transportation will be free on election days this year, maintaining the measure adopted in the 2022 elections and repeated in 2024. The suspension of fares will be valid from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM on October 4th, the first round, and on October 25th, if there is a second round. The free service covers municipal buses, BRT, VLT, minibuses, and vans. During this period, services will operate according to the weekday schedule.

As stipulated in Rio Decree No. 58.518, published in the Official Gazette on August 17, the measure aims to facilitate the movement of voters and guarantee free access to municipal transportation for the exercise of their right to vote.

Traffic restrictions

Centro

Saturday (October 3rd), from 6 AM to 11:59 PM:

• Rua da Alfândega, between Rua Primeiro de Março and Avenida Rio Branco;

• Rua Souza e Silva, between Rua Sacadura Cabral and Rua do Moinho;

• Sacadura Cabral Street, one lane open, between Souza e Silva Street and Livramento Street.

Sunday (04/10), from 6am to 23:59pm:

• Avenida Presidente Vargas, the lane next to the buildings with odd-numbered addresses, between Avenida Rio Branco and Rua Primeiro de Março;

• Pio X Square, the lane next to the buildings with odd-numbered addresses, between Quitanda Street and Candelária Street.

São Cristóvão

Saturday (03/10), from 12am to 17am:

• Rua Barão de Itapagipe, between Avenida Paulo de Frontin and Rua do Matoso.

Gamboa

Saturday (October 3rd), from 8 am to 6 pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 3 pm to 11:59 pm:

• Rua Souza e Silva, between Rua Sacadura Cabral and Rua do Moinho;

• Sacadura Cabral Street, right lane, between Souza e Silva Street and Livramento Street.

South Zone

crow's nest

Saturday (October 3rd), from 7 am to 6 pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 1 am to 10 pm:

• Santos Dumont Square, inner lane next to the buildings, between numbers 40 and 02;

• Rua Major Rubens Vaz, between numbers 51 and 170.

North Zone

New Engenho

Saturday (October 3rd), from 6pm to 12pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 5am to 9pm:

• Rua Dias da Cruz, a lane next to the buildings with odd-numbered addresses, between Rua Borja Reis and Rua Adolfo Bergamini.

Pottery

Saturday (October 3rd), from 9pm to 7pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 5am to 9pm:

• Filomena Nunes Street, between Carlina Street and Leopoldina Rego Street.

Pavuna

Saturday (October 3rd) and Sunday (October 4th), from 5 am to 8 pm:

• Nossa Senhora das Dores Square, between Maria Joaquina Street and Comendador Guerra Street, including the unnamed internal street.

little field

Saturday (October 3rd) and Sunday (October 4th), from 10 am to 8 pm:

• Dr. Jaime Marques de Araújo Street, between Pinto Teles Street and Intendente Magalhães Road;

• Praça Márcia Mendes, between Rua Dr. Jaime Marques de Araújo and Rua Cirilo da Silveira;

• Francisco Cupello Street;

• José da Silva Caboatan Street;

• José Félix de Mariz Street, between Cirilo da Silveira Street and General Fernando Batalha Street.

Governor's Island

Sunday (04/10), from 6am to 20pm:

• Ericeira Street, the strip next to the buildings with even-numbered addresses, between Estrada do Galeão and Rua Sargento João Lopes;

• Estrada do Galeão, the strip next to the buildings with even-numbered addresses, between Rua Ericeira and Rua Boêmia.

Southwest Zone

Barra da Tijuca

Saturday (October 3rd), starting at 6 AM, continuing through Sunday (October 4th):

• Ayrton Senna Avenue, two lanes of the side road, in front of building number 2.001.

West Zone

Deodoro

Saturday (October 3rd), from 8pm to 6pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 5am to 9pm:

• Jorge Schmidt Street, between João Vicente Street and Regente Lima e Silva Street.

Senator Camará

Saturday (October 3rd), from 12pm to 4pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 5am to 9pm:

• Avenida Ministro Ary Franco, between Rua Almeida Pires and Rua Sitia.

Campo Grande

Saturday (October 3rd) and Sunday (October 4th), from 6 AM to 11:59 PM:

• Rondônia Street, between Timbaúba Street and Maina Square.

Saturday (October 3rd) and Sunday (October 4th), from 6 am to 8 pm:

• Rua Nova Betânia, along its entire length.

Santa Cruz

Saturday (October 3rd), from 12pm to 5pm, and Sunday (October 4th), from 5am to 9pm:

• Rua das Palmeiras Imperiais, between the Olympic Village and Rua Ferreira Nobre;

• Martinho de Campos Street, between number 25 and Marquês de Maricá Street;

• Rua Marquês de Maricá, between Rua Martinho de Campos and Rua Fernanda.