Demand for urban public transport increased by 43% by March compared to 2022

The city’s government-controlled public transport continues to recover riders after a sharp downturn due to the pandemic, with demand up 43% through March 31 compared to the same period in 2022, it was announced on Tuesday.

Preliminary data for the period from January 1 to March 31, published in a statement by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action (MAAC), relate to Metropolitano de Lisbon, Metropolitano do Porto and Soflus/Transtejo.

However, according to the ministry, “Demand for the Lisbon Metro and Transtejo/Soflusa is still 3% and 2% respectively lower than in 2019, when companies were not yet affected by the covid-19 pandemic. 19″.

For Metro do Porto, the number of passengers in the first quarter of this year exceeded the demand recorded in 2019 by 16%, and at that time the public transport fare reduction support program (PART) was not yet applied.

According to the ministry, from the beginning of the year to March 31, these three companies carried 64.758 million passengers.

The Ministry also indicates in a note that during the four-year period 2019-2022. through PART, the Public Transport Supply Densification and Strengthening Support Program (PROTransP) and additional allocations to maintain supply during the pandemic, it has mobilized more than 905 million euros for public transport.

The note notes that in the Law on the State Budget for 2023, 138.6 million euros were prescribed for PART.

“In addition to these amounts, another 50 million euros to ensure that the current prices for public transport tickets in 2022 are maintained and another 60 million euros if it is necessary to ensure the level of supply in public transport. transport systems covered by PART continue to suffer the consequences of the loss of demand as a result of the pandemic,” he adds.

The ministry also indicates that PROTransP maintains a budget of 20 million euros, reinforced in 2022.