Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff and Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Eduardo Paes announced last Wednesday March 21 a public financing plan for two new important urban mobility works in the city – some of the projects which are crucial for the transportation plan of Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games. The financing is aimed at the construction of BRT (Bus Rapid Transit, the fast traffic bus) express corridor of Avenida Brasil, Transbrasil and the LRV (Light Rail Vehicle) for the City Centre area. The Federal Government will release R$ 1.63 billion from the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) of Urban Mobility to finance the projects.

The financing of both projects was announced during President Rousseff’s visit to the Transcarioca works, accompanied by Rio de Janeiro State’s Governor Sergio Cabral, Mayor Eduardo Paes and the President of Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

For Transbrasil, with a R$ 1.3 billion budget and an estimated 36-month construction term, the Federal Government will finance R$ 1,129 billion, while the Municipal Government will contribute with R$ 171 million. In the case of LRV in the City Centre area, whose cost is R$ 1.1 billion, the Federal Government will finance R$ 500 million, and the remainder will be financed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

President Rousseff emphasised the importance of sport events in Brazil as a way to encourage permanent improvements in Rio de Janeiro: “I would like to compliment our dear friend Nuzman (...), who also represents (...) all the great events we will host here in the city of Rio de Janeiro (...). It is important to realize that all these events will be supported with a big effort from the Federal, State and Municipal Governments, to leave a legacy to this city’s people”.

The President of Rio 2016™, Carlos Arthur Nuzman, underscored the importance of the announcement from three different viewpoints: “The guarantee of investments by the Federal and Municipal Governments shows the commitment and integration of all government levels to Rio 2016™. It also ensures safe and efficient transportation during Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games. And above all, it attests that the event will bring deep and positive transformations to the city”.

High Performance Transportation Ring

In addition to Transbrasil, which will link Deodoro region (one of the four regions which will host competitions during Rio 2016™ Games) with Santos Dumont Domestic Airport, three other BRT corridors will be constructed in the city to integrate the new High Performance Transportation Ring, which will expand the high-capacity transportation coverage rate from current 18% to 63% until 2016. The corridors will be Transcarioca (which is already under construction, linking the Barra region, which will host more than 50% of competitions, with the International Airport), Transoeste (also under construction, connecting Barra to Santa Cruz and Campo Grande neighborhoods) and Transolímpica (which will link Barra with Deodoro, and is currently undergoing a bidding process).

The City Centre LRV will use unprecedented technology in Brazil, and will integrate subway stations, train stations, ferries, BRT, conventional bus system and Santos Dumont Airport, thus improving traffic conditions in the city’s central area, with planning targeted at reducing bus circulation in the area. The project is also an essential part of the renovation of Rio’s Port Zone, which will host several non-sport venues during Rio 2016™ Games (Operations Centre, Technology Centre, Logistics Centre, Olympic Villas, Security Operations Centre, Registration and Uniform Centre and Unregistered Media Centre).

The construction of Transcarioca is divided into two stages. The first, with 28 km between Barra and Penha neighborhoods, was initiated one year ago. This month, Rio’s Municipal Government will initiate the second phase of works; 11 km long between Penha and Tom Jobim International Airport.

Mayor Eduardo Paes explained how the BRT Transcarioca bus corridor will change the life of a large portion of Rio de Janeiro: “This Transcarioca work is the most important of all BRTs, and will transform the city’s reality. It will influence traffic and transportation in several regions of Rio, especially the suburban area, which has been abandoned and degraded for so long”.

Governor Sergio Cabral stressed the union of the three government spheres: “This partnerhip means Transcarioca, Transbrasil, Transoeste, Transolímpica and LRV, in addition to Supervia and Subway rail system renovation. The partnership also means public security, support from the Armed Forces, and pacification of communities. I would also like to announce to Madureira community that we will bring the Police Pacification Units (UPPs) here”.