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City Hall Bets on Implementing a VLT to Revitalize 28 km of Railway Line. With Support from the PAC, a Feasibility Study Has Been Approved, and the VLT Is Expected to Connect the City’s Extrema, Also Serving the Central Region.
The City Hall of Bauru, in the 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 accommodate the Light Rail Vehicle (VLT), a transportation system already popular in Europe and gaining traction in Brazilian cities.
The idea is that the VLT, in addition to offering a new commuting option for the population, will help ease traffic and promote integration with other modes, such as buses.
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A Ambitious Project Aims to Connect the City’s Extremes
According to the municipal administration, the project plans for the VLT to cover a route linking Vila Dutra, in western Bauru, to the Octávio Rasi Housing Complex, located in the eastern part of the city.
In addition to the end stations, there will also be a central stop at the old Railway Station, serving residents and workers in the city center.
Investment and Feasibility
The starting point for the project’s realization 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 over R$ 500,000 to make up the initial funding.
Mayor Suéllen Rosim, in an interview with TV TEM, explained that the study will be fundamental to assess the technical and financial feasibility of the VLT.
“The idea of the study is precisely to bring this viability. Will we be able to recover all these existing lines? Will we need to replace all of them? What would be the cost for that?” she commented.
According to the mayor, the responses obtained will help the City Hall seek additional resources, whether from federal or state funds, or from a potential concession.
Challenges and Deadlines for the VLT
The first phase of the project involves the creation of a study group, formalized in the Official Gazette on October 31.
The team consists of staff from four municipal departments – Planning Department, Municipal Education Department, Department of Works, and the Mayor’s Office.
This group will be tasked with conducting feasibility studies, generating photographic reports, and making budget estimates.
For 2025, the hiring of an engineering company is scheduled to follow up on the technical work.
The initial estimate is that the total cost of the project will be R$ 350 million.
According to the City Hall, dialogue with the Federal Government has already begun, and discussions have also started with Rumo Logística, the concessionaire responsible for operating the two main railway lines that pass through Bauru.
The VLT Technology: Benefits and Examples in Brazil
The Light Rail Vehicle, or VLT, is an urban transportation system reminiscent of old trams, but with modern technology and greater efficiency.
Powered by electricity, it emits no polluting gases and generates less noise, characteristics that align with the demands for sustainability and quality of life in cities.
In Brazil, the VLT already operates in cities like Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Santos (SP), where it has proven to be an attractive and quiet alternative for passenger transport.
In Europe, the VLT is widely used for its ability to integrate with other means of transport and for contributing to traffic reduction.
Moreover, its average speed, which ranges between 20 km/h and 40 km/h, allows it to transit 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 for the use of the railway line must be submitted to its prior analysis and 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 arrangements between the City Hall and the company, a crucial step to enable the use of the existing railway routes.
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 commuting options.
Mayor Suéllen Rosim believes that if the project moves forward, it will bring benefits in various aspects, from mobility to economic development, as efficient transportation can attract more investment 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 indeed transform the lives of Bauru’s residents, bringing more practicality and mobility to their daily lives?
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!!!
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…..