Challenges of Managing Transport in
Sao Paulo
As you watch this PowerPoint, you need to make notes on:
1. The challenges facing Sao Paulo, particularly with reference to
transport.
2. The aspects of Sao Paulo’s transport network that are successful.
3. Any solutions to the issues raised.
Try to include detail where possible as this will improve your exam grade!
What are the Issues in Sao Paulo?
1. Although urbanisation plans have been implemented in some areas, São Paulo
has developed quickly without major planning.
2. Ineffective public transport associated with a high number of cars and other
vehicles in circulation lead to consistently congested traffic on many roads of the
city.
3. Approximately 830,000 people - about 5% of the population - live in slums
(favelas) in São Paulo and surrounding regions.
4. The so-called PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital or First Command of the
Capital) is a criminal faction whose terrorist attacks in May and July 2006
shocked its citizens. The main target of these attacks were the police and
government officials.
5. Although there exists several parks across the city, the green area per capita is
very small. Because of the lack of green spaces and the impermeability of the
paved ground, rain water cannot be drained and floods are common in particular
areas.
6. Air pollution is high. The two major rivers crossing the city are severely polluted.
7. Crime rate is high, and many residents have sought personal security by living in
gated communities.
Cars
Congestion in Sao Paulo is a problem.
Transport within Brazil is overwhelmingly road based, accounting for 97% of
travel, compared with 2.2% air and less than 1% rail.
SOLUTION 1: In Sao Paulo there is a traffic control program, or rodizio,
restricting car usage one day a week, depending on the last digit of your number
plate. For example on Monday number plates ending in 1 or 2 are prohibited from
circulating in certain areas between certain times.
SOLUTION 2: The main means of commuting into the city is by car and by bus.
An effective way of avoiding heavy vehicles traffic in the city, such as buses and
trucks that crossed the city for other destinations, was planned by ex-governor
Mário Covas as a ring of road that circles the city, and is currently being built.
SOLUTION 3: Ethanol…
Ethanol and Electric Cars
Brazil is currently the world’s largest consumer and producer of ethanol. Due to the early
utilisation of fuel alcohol and the introduction of commercial FFVs (Flexible Fuel Vehicles –
vehicles that have 2 fuel tanks for 2 types of fuel), the country has gained a huge knowledge
about ethanol.
In the 70´s the Brazilian Government created the Brazilian Ethanol Programme PROÁLCOOL in
order to reduce the country’s dependence of oil imports by substituting conventional gasoline
with fuel alcohol from sugar cane. Since 1975, the cost of producing ethanol has declined by 4
to 5 percent annually, making it both environmentally desirable and cost effective.
One new objective is to implement the Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV - battery) technology
running on the Brazilian gasohol (25 % of alcohol admixture to regular gasoline). The advanced
technology achieves up to twice the fuel economy of regular vehicles, helping to reduce up to 50
percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
The City of São Paulo is the fourth biggest city in the world (16 million people are living in the
metropolitan area). Due to the city’s inadequate public transport congestion is one of the major
constraints for further progress of the city. In addition it poses serious health hazards to the
citizens. São Paulo has developed a long-range transport plan where less-polluting Flex Fuel
Vehicles (FFVs) or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) will help to significantly reduce pollution.
Airports
São Paulo has three airports. In 2005, about 33 million people passed
through the city's airports. São Paulo thus contains the most crowded air
space both in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere.
1. Congonhas Domestic Airport operates domestic and regional flights,
mainly to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasília.
2. Campo de Marte Airport handles some private and small aeroplanes.
3. Guarulhos International Airport operates domestic and international
flights.1
Underground
Within São Paulo, the subway is the safest and fastest transport option, but
with only three lines it is fairly limited. The metro is open from 5am to
midnight, including weekends, but ticket windows close at 10pm.
The city has 60.5 km of underground railway systems (34.6 km fully
underground). The São Paulo Metro, known as the Metrô, has 4 lines in
operation and 57 stations (33 underground).
The system falls down substantially on the question of integration with other
parts of the public transport system as there is no through-ticketing or
frequent user incentives such as travelcards. The other failure on the part of
the system is its lack of comprehensive coverage for all zones of the city.
Underground
SOLUTION: Modest expansion is underway, with extensions to existing lines taking
the network marginally further out of the city boundaries, though still not extending
coverage as comprehensively throughout the city as might be wished nor simplifying
some journeys in the centre. In addition to a new line to link the city centre with the
cultural and shopping districts around Jardins, there is also an extension to relieve
congestion in the city centre. Two new lines have been planned in the south of the city,
though no work has begun.
On Friday January 12, 2007, a huge crater opened by accident in a future line 4
(yellow) station of São Paulo´s subway system. Professionals who work in the
company blame the excess of rain as a primary cause, although people say that what
really happened was insufficient soil analysis, since the station is very close to the river.
Seven people were killed (four of them in a passing bus which was swallowed and
buried by the cave-in). The accident caused serious damages to many houses in the
surrounding area, forcing their inhabitants to move to hotels and the homes of relatives.
Buses
‘Sao Paulo‘s urban bus system is pretty complicated, even for the locals.’
www.gringos.com
Roughly 17,000 buses serve the 16 million inhabitants of the Sao Paulo
Metropolitan Region, coloured uniformly according to the region served (e.g.
light green for the buses that go from the centre to the southwest, dark blue
for the northern area); 12,000 of them serve the Sao Paulo municipality itself.
Congestion is heavy at peak travel times, and traffic signal timing favours the
flow of cars. Bus operations are also hampered by obsolete ticket collection
systems and by poor access for bus passengers, which lengthens boarding
and alighting times. Average bus speed is about 13 kilometres per hour and
service is unreliable.
Until recently, there was a strong presence of informal transportation (dab
vans). These are now fully legalized and operating under the same colour
scheme of the main system.
Buses
SOLUTION? A pioneer project in Sao Paulo involves the private
implementation and operation of "trunkline bus corridors", showing a way of
financing investments in public transport that the state and municipal
governments would otherwise have postponed because of tight budgets.
Conditions are expected to improve soon as the private sector becomes
involved in "trunkline bus corridors." All costs to implement each service,
including improvements in street systems and facilities such as terminals, are
to be born by the winning firm. Tender documents for ten bus corridors have
been issued, ten bids have now been awarded and contracts signed.
Regulatory and controlling power remain in government hands. The
government will control tariffs, preventing undue increases harmful to low
income users, and monitoring the level of service offered against the preagreed targets.
Challenges of Managing Transport in
Sao Paulo
Now use a new piece of paper and create a mind map showing what you
can remember.
Now check that your mind map includes:
1. An introduction section, outlining issues in Sao Paulo.
2. Information about road transport, including solutions of new fuel
technology and new road developments.
3. Information about the airports – a more successful element of the
transport network in Sao Paulo.
4. The Metro. What are it’s strengths and where does it need improving?
5. The buses. What changes are taking place?
6. Overall assessment of sustainability???