IL leader says ‘metrobus’ is a fallacy and doesn’t solve Porto’s mobility problem

The leader of the Liberal Initiative, Rui Rocha, said this Saturday that the mobility problem in the Boavista area of ​​Porto could be solved by a “real metro” and not the “mistake” of the metrobus.

At the 3rd National Assembly of the Nuclei of Liberal Initiatives, the main task of which was “preparing the way for local elections,” the leader of the liberals highlighted a number of IL proposals that could be used by the structures and adapted to the “local reality.” in health, education, housing and transport.

On transportation and mobility, Rui Rocha highlighted the work of the Porto, Illinois core to address the Metrobus problem.

“The core of Porto is fighting a big battle against the metrobus because it is not the solution and because it does not solve it. What could really solve the mobility problem in Porto would be a real metro solution, not the delusion that is the metrobus,” he said, noting that the project “will not solve any problems” for the population.

On Tuesday, IL do Porto criticized the metrobus project in a statement, which it called a “colossal mistake”, and accused the municipality of an “awkward silence” regarding the work. This position was expressed by the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira. , stated that he arrived late.

“Metrobus is 90% buses, 10% metro and 0% solutions,” IL do Porto coordinator Albino Ramos was quoted as saying in the statement, adding that the “glorified buses” of the new service “have little or no contribution to make.” into real changes in the way Porto residents move around the city.”

According to IL, “the entire process deserves criticism”, both on the design, lack of information and communication with the city, and on the work itself, with “completely unrealistic completion dates, daily changes in traffic flows, reduced and confusing signage, minimal canopies and reduced space for passage.”

In a conversation with Lusa, the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, said that the criticism of the project presented by the party two years ago was “overdue.”

“It seems inappropriate and pathetic to criticize when the project is underway,” says the independent mayor, recalling that the metrobus is a solution adopted in several European cities and that it is necessary for the city’s energy transition.

Regarding the work, Rui Moreira stressed that the municipality is not satisfied with the progress of the work and that it has “drawn the attention” of the Metro company several times.

“The Porto city council has done nothing but attract attention,” he said.

The new Metro do Porto line will connect Casa da Música with Praça do Império (in 12 minutes) and Anémona (in 17 minutes) in 2024 with hydrogen buses operating on a dedicated road on Avenida da Boavista and simultaneously with cars on Avenida Marechal. Gomez da Costa.

The investment in the metrobus is fully funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and amounts to €66 million excluding VAT, and work started at the end of January.

The stations Casa da Música, Guerra Junqueiro, Bessa, Pinheiro Manso, Serralves, João de Barros and Império are scheduled for first service, and on the section to Matosinhos Antunes Guimarães, Garcia de Orta, Nevogilde, Castelo do Queijo and Praça the City of Salvador (Anemona) has been added .