Curitiba

A Brazilian city of 1.6 million where 75 per cent of commuters use public transport. The bus system is financially self-sufficient service that has been achieved through strong public and private sector partnership.

Loading tube at a bus stop. Photo by Paul Hankinson

The entire approach to the structure of a city can be used to support the development of sustainable transport systems. Curitiba is a Brazilian city of 1.6 million people where 75 per cent of commuters use public transport.

Traffic levels have declined by 30 per cent since 1974, even though the population has doubled. High density development is permitted around express busway corridors and the allowable densities decline as distance increases from the express busway. Lower density areas are served by local feeder bus services.

The Curitiba bus system is a financially self-sufficient project that has been achieved through an integrated approach involving changes in the planning system, a diversified public transport service, variable concentration of residential development according to proximity to the transport network, the creation of dedicated road facilities, the introduction of innovative ‘loading tubes’, and the evolution of a special relationship between the public and private sectors. Local community groups were involved in the planning process.

Tags: transport, cities and towns