The Sao Paulo metro revolution

Founded in April 1968 due to the needs implied by the recent urbanization of the city, the first line —the blue— began operating in September 1974, with 16.7 kilometers of extension and 20 stations. These increase to the current 55, which register a total of 61.3 kilometers, divided into four lines, distributed by colors and numbers.

The problem of its development arose in the 1930s, when the concern for transport began, since the road system was the main objective of the Governments until well into the 1990s. "Time is not necessary to build roads, cost and the investment that the subway lines require. Thus, Sao Paulo was developed for the car and not for the subway," explains Marcio Rogerio Silveira, leader of the study group for regional development and infrastructure.

But the inconveniences are not solely the fault of government planning: neither does the city have a good subway, nor do the citizens know how to use it. People do not wait for the other to get out of the car before entering, and despite having exclusive seats for the elderly and pregnant women, seats are not respected.

Despite the difficulties, it seems that it is now undergoing a true revolution, which began in 2007. The challenge is to increase the 61.3 kilometers, and it is expected that in 2010 it will reach 142 kilometers, according to the company that manages the metro. In addition, they plan to install 47 more air carriages, refurbish another 98 and build five new stations.

The novelties also include parking at the stations, their own bicycle cars and areas for the use of computers at no cost to the passenger. At the moment, mobile phones already work on some lines, but the rate is not unified for all transport. In addition to this, in many of the stations there are currently exhibitions, including sculptures, paintings and avant-garde architecture. The suburban art collection, 'Art in the Metrô Project', has around 100 works of art by well-known Brazilian artists.