São Paulo received the virTual mission of the World Bank Group for the implementation of the Project Corredor BRT Aricanduva, between June 7th and 10th. Among those present, during the opening, were the Municipal Secretary of International Affairs (SMRI), Marta Suplicy, the Municipal Secretary of Mobility and Transport (SMT), Levi dos Santos Oliveira, and the Municipal Secretary of Urban Infrastructure and Works (SIURB), Marcos Monteiro. The World Bank Operations Officer in Brazil, Ana Guerrini, and the Senior Funding and Financing Manager at SP Obras, Evandro Torquato, led a series of meetings between consultants from the World Bank Group and technicians from the Transport, Finance and International Affairs Departments, Infrastructure and Works, SPObras, SPTrans, CET and the Municipal General Comptroller.
The Mission´s objective was to discuss the follow-up of each theme related to the project's financing and execution, such as fiscal, economic, legal-administrative, environmental, social, engineering and road safety documentation.
In her speech, Secretary Marta Suplicy highlighted the importance of the Corredor BRT Aricanduva for the comfort of the population, defending that the project will transform the mobility in the East End of São Paulo, by serving thousands of passengers per day, in one of the city's most populated regions. "The partnership of the World Bank Group is long-lasting, and the Organization has always been interested in the development of São Paulo, especially in the implementation of a sustainable and efficient agenda of our public services, which converges with our administration's objectives", completed.
Following that, Secretary Levi Oliveira informed that 40 km of lanes designated to public transportation and 50 km of exclusive tracks, plus four new bus terminals and water transport in the Billings Dam, would be delivered with the next years of this administration. This converges with City Hall's government program and with the UN's sustainable development objectives.
Secretary Marcos Monteiro concluded by highlighting the importance of the intersecretarial interaction and joint work lead by the Former Mayor Bruno Covasand now continued by Mayor Ricardo Nunes. He also mentioned the investments towards the revitalization of the city center, following the model of the world's main urban centers, and defended that public transport is vital for the quality of life of peripheral communities, in addition to being an enabler of local commerce and industries.
Evandro Torquato commented that the project goes beyond improving the provision of public transport - according to the SP Obras Manager, it aims at "reducing travel time, improving the quality of life of users, facilitating the movement of residents, encouraging the use of public transport, reducing pollutant emissions and promoting urban renovation in regions adjacent to the transport axis".
The project "BRT Corredor Aricanduva" aims to improve accessibility for public transport users, and plans to serve 290 thousand passengers per day, starting at "Radial Leste" and ending in São Mateus Terminal, at East Zone, with approximately 14 km of extension and the construction of a modern Operation Control Centre for integrated management for bus operations. The initiative will be funded by the World Bank Group, with an estimated value of US$ 121,25 million, with US$ 97 million of the World Bank and US$ 24,25 million in counterparts contributions from São Paulo City Hall.