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The end of the subway in SP? New VLT could integrate public transport in São Paulo while Ricardo Nunes seeks subsidies from companies for the project.
End of the subway in SP? The mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, announced on August 23 the final list of companies that will present studies for the implementation of the new Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) in the capital of São Paulo. This project, which promises to be a true revolution in the city's public transportation, aims to modernize urban mobility with a modern tram system that will cross the central region of São Paulo. With this advancement, there are expectations that the VLT will become an efficient alternative to the subway, providing more travel options for São Paulo residents. The initiative also attracts large investments and could signal significant changes in the public transportation scenario of Brazil's largest city.
What will the new VLT that will bring an end to the subway in SP be like?
Eight companies were made official and Mayor Ricardo Nunes had stated in recent weeks that there would be nine.
There were 10 proposals in total, but two were withdrawn. Based on the studies presented by the eight companies for the new public transport system, the city government will launch a bidding process and the concession will be awarded through a Public Private Partnership. The city government's goal is for the trams to be in operation by 2027 or 2028.
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The VLT in downtown São Paulo will have two lines of six kilometers each and 27 stops, of which 13 will be distributed in each direction with a connection.
The estimate is that the vehicles will serve the regions of Brás, Campos Elíseos and Bom Retiro. The two VLT lines should cost between R$3,5 billion and R$3,7 billion. The system should serve 134 thousand passengers and will have connections with the BRTs (high-capacity, high-speed bus corridors) that are being built, with regular buses and subway stations.
The companies will be accredited to prepare projects, surveys and studies of technical, operational, economic-financial and legal-institutional feasibility, and may assist the municipal public administration in designing the partnership with the private sector for the design, implementation, operation and maintenance of urban public transport services using Light Rail Vehicles (VLT), in the Central Region of the Municipality of São Paulo, which could bring about the end of the subway in SP.
VLT should enter public transport in SP in 2028
Among the companies behind the project are Modera Engineering LTDA, Nova Engevix Engineering and Projects SA, Global Ace Participations and Investments, Garín Partners, Benvenuto Engineering S/S LTDA, SAM VLT Consortium, Ernst & Young Business Consulting and Andrade Gutierrez Construction and Services S/A.
Between the the most disruptive Those who gave up are Promulti Engenharia, Infraestrutura e Meio Ambiente Ltda, Sener Setepla Tecnometal Engenharia e Sistemas Ltda. The city hall's goal is for the trams to be in circulation from 2027 or 2028.
It is worth highlighting that Mayor Ricardo Nunes signed on January 25, 2024, the city's anniversary, the launch of the PMI and a public consultation for the implementation of the first VLT system in the city.
Ricardo Nunes seeks subsidies to make the structuring of the VLT viable
The city government expects to receive from those interested in participating in the PMI, in addition to studies, scenario diagnoses and operational and economic-financial feasibility surveys. The objective is to assist the Municipal Public Administration in designing a partnership with the private sector for the implementation and operation project of the VLT on rails in the central region.
Ricardo Nunes states that different Brazilian federative entities have opted to carry out expression of interest (PMI) procedures to collect subsidies to enable the structuring of projects. The cases cited include the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, the States of Alagoas and Ceará and, more recently, the Federal District.
After the accreditation of interested parties, the Special Evaluation Committee (CEA) will proceed to analyze the documentation. All interested parties that present the accreditation documents in accordance with the requirements of the notice will be accredited.
