“The second phase of the metro[bus] should never have started. It’s a provocation to Porto to begin that project knowing there were profound disagreements involving the various mayoral candidates regarding the design of this project, especially when we’re just days away from the municipal elections,” said the socialist candidate.
He continued, “I can only commend the Metro company, which, I repeat, is under the government’s direction—the Minister of Infrastructure is responsible for its public guidance—for correcting a wrong decision by advancing with the project and now making the right decision to suspend it, at least until the new Mayor can give their opinion.”
Metro do Porto has decided to implement a “temporary technical stop” of the second phase of the metrobus project, which commenced on September 22, the company announced today following recent opposition.
The works of the second phase of the metrobus began on September 22 in the dedicated Bus corridor of Avenida da Boavista, covering the section between Rua Jorge Reinel (near Colégio do Rosário) and Avenida do Dr. Antunes Guimarães.
The metrobus is set to connect Casa da Música to Praça do Império (in 12 minutes) and Anémona (in 17), and the service vehicles will be hydrogen buses visually similar to conventional metro ones, constructed at the cost of 29.5 million euros, including the fueling infrastructure.
The vehicles have already arrived and the first phase of the project is completed, but the service is not yet operational. Currently, the Avenida da Boavista channel is used by soft mobility users like cyclists and scooter riders.
The candidates for Porto’s city council include Manuel Pizarro (PS), Diana Ferreira (CDU – PCP/PEV coalition), Nuno Cardoso (Porto Primeiro – NC/PPM coalition), Pedro Duarte (PSD/CDS-PP/IL coalition), Sérgio Aires (BE), current vice-president Filipe Araújo (Fazer à Porto – independent), Guilherme Alexandre Jorge (Volt), Hélder Sousa (Livre), Miguel Corte-Real (Chega), Frederico Duarte Carvalho (ADN), Maria Amélia Costa (PTP), and Luís Tinoco Azevedo (PLS).
The current executive comprises a majority of six elected officials from Rui Moreira’s movement and one independent councilor, with the other positions filled by two from PS, two from PSD, one from CDU, and one from BE.
The municipal elections are scheduled for October 12.
