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The city government is betting on the implementation of a VLT to revitalize 28 km of railway line. With support from the PAC, a feasibility study was approved, and the VLT should connect the extremes of the city, also serving the central region.
The City Hall of Bauru, in interior of São Paulo, is about to embark on a major transformation project for the city's urban mobility.
The proposal involves the revitalization of 28 kilometers of railway line to receive the Light Rail Vehicle (LRV), a transport system that is already popular in Europe and that is gaining ground in Brazilian cities.
The idea is that the VLT, in addition to offering a new travel option for the population, helps to ease traffic and promote integration with other modes of transport, such as buses.
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Ambitious project aims to connect the city's extremes
According to the municipal administration, the project foresees that the VLT will run along a route that connects Vila Dutra, in the west of Bauru, to the Octávio Rasi Housing Complex, located in the east of the city.
In addition to the peak stations, there will also be a central stop at the old Railway Station, serving residents and workers in the city center.
Investment and viability
The starting point for the project was the approval of a feasibility study.
To finance this survey, Bauru secured an investment of R$1,5 million through the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), a partnership with the Federal Government.
In addition, the municipality contributed more than R$500 to make up the initial budget.
Mayor Suéllen Rosim, in an interview with TV TEM, explained that the study will be fundamental to assess the technical and financial viability of the VLT.
“The idea of the study is precisely to bring this feasibility. Will we be able to recover all these existing lines? Will we need to replace them all? What would the cost of this be?” he commented.
According to the mayor, the responses obtained will help the City Hall to seek more resources, whether through federal or state funds, or a possible concession.
Challenges and deadlines for the VLT
The first phase of the project involves the creation of a study group, officialized in the Official Gazette on October 31.
The team is made up of employees from four municipal departments – Planning Department, Municipal Education Department, Public Works Department and City Hall Office.
This group will be tasked with carrying out feasibility studies, generating photographic reports and making budget estimates.
Also planned for 2025 is the hiring of an engineering company that will continue the technical work.
The initial estimate is that the total work will cost R$350 million..
According to the City Hall, the dialogue with the Federal government has already begun and conversations have also begun with Rumo Logística, the concessionaire responsible for operating the two main railway lines that pass through Bauru.
VLT technology: benefits and examples in Brazil
The Light Rail Vehicle, or VLT, is an urban transport system that resembles old trams, but with modern technology and greater efficiency.
Powered by electricity, it does not emit polluting gases and generates less noise, characteristics that align with the demands of sustainability and quality of life in cities.
In Brazil, the VLT already operates in cities such as Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Santos (SP), where it has proven to be an attractive and silent alternative for passenger transport.
In Europe, the tram is widely used due to its ability to integrate with other means of transport and its contribution to reducing traffic.
Furthermore, its average speed, which is between 20 km/h and 40 km/h, allows it to travel safely and efficiently within cities..
Authorization and positioning of Rumo Logística
Despite the enthusiasm for the project, Rumo Logística, which holds the concession for the railway lines in question, made it clear that it has not yet been officially consulted.
In a statement, the company stated that any plan to use the railway line must be submitted for its analysis and prior approval, in accordance with the current concession contract.
Rumo is responsible for the Malha Oeste and Malha Paulista lines, which cross the city of Bauru and would potentially be affected by the new mobility project.
Therefore, the progress of the VLT will also depend on the coordination between the City Hall and the company, a crucial step to make the use of existing railway lines viable.
Bauru and the future of sustainable urban mobility
With the VLT, Bauru envisions a future where traffic is more organized and where the population has new travel options.
Mayor Suéllen Rosim believes that, if the project moves forward, it will bring benefits in several aspects, from mobility to economic development, since efficient transportation can attract more investments to the region.
The creation of the VLT is an ambitious but necessary step to make the city more accessible and aligned with contemporary environmental demands.
As Brazilian cities seek sustainable alternatives, initiatives like this become increasingly fundamental.
Will this VLT project really be able to transform the lives of Bauru residents, bringing more practicality and mobility to their daily lives?
Aqui em Campinas não deu certo, gastaram uma grana alta nas instalações, chegou a funcionar em um pequeno percurso mas foi desativado e todo o dinheiro foi pro ralo! Era na administração do Prefeito Jacó Bittar, aquele relacionado com o sítio de Atibaia do Lula. Foi só corrupção e as instalações foram sucateadas e os fios roubados! Cuidado povo de Bauru os políticos só pensam em roubar levar vantagem! Vejam o nosso exemplo…..
Ué, vão trocar um sistema de transporte de alta capacidade (trem), por um de baixa/média capacidade (VLT)? É MAIS INTELIGENTE MELHORAR O SISTEMA FERROVIÁRIO QUE TRANSPORTA MAIS GENTE!!!