“The BRT is not a solution, it doesn’t work for Braga,” stated António Braga, the PS/PAN coalition candidate, during a debate on RTP3, emphasizing that “a regular bus, operating on time, would suffice” and advocating for a surface metro as the future focus.
Regarding financing, António Braga did not rule out the possibility of a public-private partnership (PPP).
In contrast, the Liberal Initiative candidate, Rui Rocha, expressed no objection to citywide BRT, although he does not see it as the ideal solution.
When considering a BRT connecting Braga to Guimarães or Barcelos, Rui Rocha referred to it as a “grandparents’ route, as it wouldn’t have a dedicated lane.”
“Rail is the answer,” he stated.
Similarly, Chega’s candidate, Filipe Aguiar, firmly asserted that “the BRT is not a solution.”
João Rodrigues, the leader of the PSD/CDS/PPM coalition and current councilor, assured that the BRT project would proceed, initially starting with a line from the railway station to the University of Minho and the hospital.
He mentioned that the goal is to construct the four initially planned lines.
Ricardo Silva, the independent Amar e Servir Braga candidate, stated, “the solution is rail.”
While there are clear disagreements on the BRT, there is unanimity among the ten candidates on the necessity of constructing the Cávado variant, considering it an essential project to alleviate Braga’s traffic issues.
Other proposed solutions include free public transport, advocated by João Rodrigues and Bloco de Esquerda’s lead candidate, António Lima.
Rui Rocha criticized this measure, stating it would lead to a deficit in Braga Urban Transport (TUB) and emphasized the importance of improving services by increasing frequency and maintaining schedules.
António Braga and Livre’s candidate, Carlos Fragoso, shared this perspective, highlighting the need for reliability and predictability in TUB services.
The PCP’s lead candidate, João Baptista, proposed strengthening Braga Urban Transport and introducing a single intermodal pass.
The Chega candidate promised to immediately abolish rental scooters, considering them a “constant danger” to pedestrian safety, if elected on October 12th.
The communist candidate prioritized establishing a train connection between Braga and Guimarães.
Francisco Pimentel from the National Democratic Alternative (ADN) emphasized that without the Cávado variant, there is no solution for Braga’s traffic and referenced “historical mistakes” in city mobility left unresolved, such as the connection from Avenida da Liberdade to Lomar parish being obstructed by Forum Braga, with “no way out.”
Hugo Varanda, from the Earth Party Movement (MPT), expressed complete agreement with the railway linking Braga and Guimarães and advocated free TUB passes for users up to the age of 30.
Hugo Varanda also criticized Chega’s proposal to abolish scooters and stated that MPT wants bike lanes throughout the city.
