Expansion of São Paulo Metro Much Slower than in Other Global Cities

05/26/2015 - 09h13

The speed at which the São Paulo metro system has expanded since the PSDB assumed power of the state government in 1995 is just as slow as during previous administrations, and vastly inferior to other countries in similar conditions.

Data obtained by Folha through the Freedom of Information law show that the PSDB has invested US$9.7 billion (R$30 billion) in metro rails, trains and stations in the last 20 years, inaugurating 37.2km in new lines and 27 new stations.

This amounts to less than 2km in new line per year, a speed similar to that at which the system expanded between 1974 and 1994, when governments run by the parties Arena, PDS and PMDB inaugurated 43.4km of track and 41 stations.

According to Metro representatives, the earlier work was made possible by investment which began in 1968, while during the PSDB administration there was also significant expansion of the CPTM suburban train system.

However, Seoul, the South Korean capital, inaugurated its metro system just a month before São Paulo in 1974. Today, while São Paulo residents are limited to a system of 80.6km, the Seoul metro has expanded at 8km a year and now stands at 326.5km.

Likewise, the metro systems of Santiago and Mexico City, inaugurated in 1969 and 1975, have also expanded much more quickly than São Paulo's.

Translated by TOM GATEHOUSE

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