Niteroi’s New Smart Transport Systems
The Niterói Oceanic Region is a confined area between the sea and a mountainous region classified as an environmentally protection area, and thus, isolated from the main sources of economic activity (jobs) and services (schools, hospitals, universities), distributed in the city center and in the neighboring city of Rio de Janeiro. The upshot is that its people have grown accustomed to long commutes.
To address this situation, CAF approved a $100-million loan in September 2016 for the Oceanic Region Program in the city of Niterói, with the purpose of increasing public transport capacity and reverse environmental degradation, especially in this region, through road and mass transport projects, bicycle paths, urban rezoning and restoration of degraded areas.
To overcome the physical barrier, the Charitas tunnel was built, a dream of residents since the 1950s, which has helped shorten travel times between neighborhoods and sources of economic activities and services. To leverage this new expressway, the Transoceânica BHLS (Bus with High Level of Service) system was implemented, the first of its kind in Latin America. The BHLS consists of top-level buses with a focus on improving commuter experience, with greater comfort, accessibility and reliability. The Niterói BHLS has an exclusive 12-km lane with 11 transfer stations and a new fleet of 40 buses with air conditioning, free internet, electronic ticketing, built-in GPS and sound signals for stops. These new technologies allow users to monitor, in real time, arrival times of buses and trip duration. In addition, the Program provides for the demarcation of 50 km of bicycle lanes, 6 major bicycle stations and another 100 bicycle parking racks, which will also help develop a more sustainable transport matrix.
The benefits of the Program for the local population are remarkable and can be measured. According to calculations of the City Planning and Mobility Secretariat of Niterói, the first stage of the BHLS corridor is already saving 21 minutes/passenger in travel times. Considering that the average work performance of these users is approximately USD 5 per hour, the Program is generating savings of USD 1.58 per passenger per day, equivalent to USD 488 per year. If we multiply these figures by 20,000 current users, the yearly savings amount to USD 9.76 million. These calculations do not include benefits associated with reduction of road accidents and greenhouse gas emissions (positive externalities) generate by mass transport systems.
Thus, CAF interventions in Niterói are promoting significant productivity gains for its residents. These actions reiterate the “productivity pact,” a priority line of action as part of CAF strategy to support its shareholder countries.
In recent years, CAF actions in Brazil have targeted mainly cities. In fact, 17 of the 21 loans have been issued to city councils, which account for more than $1.2 billion in project financing. Working on the municipal scale allows us to make profound impacts on the territory and improve quality of life.
