THE CITY
OF CURITIBA
“INTEGRATED
BUS SYSTEM”
CITY OF CURITIBA
PARANÁ - BRAZIL
The City of Curitiba “Integrated Bus System”
Beto Richa
Mayor of Curitiba
CHAIRMAN
Eduardo Lopes Pereira Guimarães
Municipal Secretary of International Relations and Protocol
MEMBERS
IPPUC - Institute for Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba
Augusto Canto Neto
President
IPPUC
Lubomir Ficinski Dunin
Project Coordinator
ASSISTANTS
Liana Vallicelli
Priscila Tiboni
Lara Rodrigues
Cristiana Camargo Gusso
CREDITS
Research and English Revision
Gisele Krzyzanowski
PHOTOS
Nani Goes
Carlos Ruggi
SMCS
Expressions of Interest Form for UBPA
Self-Recommend Exhibition Case Proposals
Contact Person
page 38.
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City of Curitiba
“Integrated Bus System”
COUNTRY AND CITY
Brazil is a Federative Republic and municipalities have their own autonomy.
The local governments are responsible for developing, coordinating and
implementing policies and projects according to the States and Federal laws
related to urban planning, environmental, public transportation, education,
health care, and social services issues.
Curitiba, the capital city of Paraná State, located in the South Region of Brazil,
is 315 years old. Situated 905 m above ocean level, the climate is classified
as a moist subtropical type with average temperatures of 19oC in the summer
and 13oC in the winter.
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Curitiba is an important cultural, political and economic center.
Comprising a comprehensive infrastructure, Curitiba and its
Metropolitan Region have a wide range of spaces and facilities, such
as an international airport, modern convention centers, shopping
centers, a diversified gastronomy, a broad hotel infrastructure,
a variety of retail areas, outstanding leisure spaces, a network of public
parks and woods, museums and theaters. In addition, Curitiba is reference
as regards education and health care, counting on with 4 universities such
as the Federal University of Paraná, the oldest Brazilian university and a number
of hospitals, including 3 University-Hospitals.
The Service Sector is responsible for 65% of formal jobs in Curitiba, followed
by the Commerce Sector with 18% and Manufacturing Industry with 17%
of total employment.
Curitiba is worldwide known as a city planning model in Brazil with over 40 years
of urban planning experience.
The city is adhered to the integration among the urban functions as an induction
principle for urban growth. Land Use for the city space arrangement is linked
to the Road System prioritizing the Public Bus System over the individual
transportation, valuing the city space addressed to the pedestrian. The city relies
on the country’s most efficient public transit system. In addition to these guidelines,
the city growth is also oriented by its social, environmental and economic policies.
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CURITIBA AS A MODEL CITY
For the last decades many national and international missions have come to
Curitiba in order to know and study its forward projects, especially regarding
the city’s “Integrated Bus System” and its environmental approach on urban
planning. Some new Public Transit Systems in Brazil and abroad are based
on the Curitiba’s System, encompassing different profiles of cities, as follows:
Rio de Janeiro Brazil In order to prepare the city for the 2014
Capital of Rio de Janeiro State International Soccer Championship and to
submit its candidacy for the 2016 Olympic
Games, it is being studied a system of
dedicated lanes and bus integration to
complement the City’s Metro System
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Reasons for Self-Recommendation
The case City of Curitiba “Integrated Bus System” is a best practice example
of how integration of public transit with urban planning, without losing sight
of environment concepts, has born fruits.
The revolution began in the 60’s when the City and its citizens tried to answer
two important questions: which is the city vocation and where does it lead to.
As an answer to those two questions, the 1943 Master Plan which envisioned,
permitted and induced the city growth from the center to the outlying
neighborhoods, in a radial pattern, in evermore all-embracing circles,
was substituted by the new 1966 Master Plan.
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To do this the new Master Plan aimed at setting up a system of structural
arteries intended to foster the city’s growth called Structural Axes. These axes
would provide new areas for high density housing, medium-sized business
and services and allow the setting up of a mass public transit system that
would not only grow with the demand but if necessary it would induce it.
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The idea was to divide the traffic into three roads using already existing more
or less external parallel streets, one on each side of the main thoroughfare
already existing and now considered a structural artery. This consisted basically
of a central road and two a one-way road on its either side. The central road
was divided into 3 sections, two sections with a one-way street for local traffic
and parking and a central two-way street dedicated for buses in the center.
The external roads were meant for continuous traffic flow in and out downtown
area. The continuity of the three external parallel streets was ensured through
small expropriations at a very low cost.
In a time of cheap fuel, Curitiba decided to base its development not on road
thinking, not on car, but on a public transportation development, avoiding also
costly solutions by the use of bus system.
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The 1966 Master Plan also call for preservation of green areas that already
existed. Among them the Iguaçu Park, one out of a nowadays existing network
of over 30 Parks and Woods. The Iguaçu is a river that is born in Curitiba
and attracts millions of tourists to its world renowned falls. The idea of those
parks would be nothing more than the preservation of the areas along
riverbanks subject to flooding, giving back to river what belongs to it.
During 42 years, Curitiba steadily pursued its objectives and built step by step
of its “Integrated Bus System” and its environmental preservation.
The Green Line, the new development axis currently under construction,
integrating public transit, land use readjustments and a 22 km Linear Park
is the most recent materialization of Curitiba’s development vision.
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Briefing of The Recommended Case
1. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
In the early sixties, at an era of extremely cheap oil and at a moment when
Brazil was implementing its own automobile industry, thus geometrically rising
the domestic supply of cars, and when Curitiba was beginning to face
accelerated demographic growth - to be accentuated in the 70’s and 80’s -
and the consequent disorganization of some urban functions, the pressures
on the city’s infrastructure became insurmountable.
It became clear that the 1943 Master Plan, due to its vision and the costs
to be incurred for its implementation, could not address the situation.
A turning point occurred during the debate over a large overpass that the
State’s Development Company refused to finance offering instead funds that
would enable a new Master Plan for Curitiba to be drawn up.
By 1966 the new Master Plan was ready and after a public consultation, officially
in effect. The 1966 Master Plan reversed completely the 1943 Master Plan
and proposed the linear growth and structural arteries - the Structural Axes -
that would concentrate population and services according to the directives
of the new land use regulations established by the Plan. So along the Structural
Axes there would be a maximum density that should decrease with the distance
of the axes. Thus, the remaining zones have been designed with decreasing
densities from those axes, which constituted the basis for structuring the city.
That enabled the city to maximize investments and reduce infrastructure costs.
The downtown core area that concentrated cultural and religious establishments
would be protected and the commerce and the services would be decentralized
along these Structural Axes and special streets named Collector Roads where
retail and services were also located to serve citizens in their own neighborhoods,
avoiding unnecessary trips.
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This arrangement would provide density to an efficient mass public transport
notwithstanding the fact that the public transportation in many occasions
could be used to induce desirable land occupation.
A hierarchy of city streets was also proposed by the Plan. The Structural Axes
were connected to the neighborhoods trough Collector Roads and other
complementary roads.
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With all these major changes, the new vision of public transportation as a System
was developed and the bus was chosen as the modal avoiding expensive solutions.
Other than getting decongested the city center, revitalizing its historical district
and giving priority to pedestrians, creating new parks and preserving its green
areas, the new Master Plan also brought on economic changes. Until the end
of the 1960’s, the municipal economy was locally-oriented and incipient, focused
on commerce and services. The 1966 Master Plan gave rise to its industrialization
process by setting aside an area to the West of the city for industrial uses.
The 1966 Master Plan has also recommended the creation of an institution that
should monitor and detail its implementation.
Thus, the Institute for Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba (IPPUC) was
created. IPPUC is a municipal body that was responsible and is until today by
implementing and monitoring the urban planning process for the City of Curitiba.
It’s main responsibilities among others are: to implement the measures that are
necessary to improve living conditions for the population; develop and deliver
to the Mayor’s Office a draft bill establishing the urban plan; develop studies
and research for the city’s integral planning development; analyze and propose
legislation and administrative measures that may be representative for the
development of the city.
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2. PERFORMANCE OF THE CASE
After the approval of the 1966 Master Plan, IPPUC began the detailing of
its basic guidelines that encompass seven sections, dealing with road system,
zoning, land subdivisions, urban renovation, preservation and revitalization
of historical areas, green areas and building code.
For the first time in the history of Curitiba, urban planning and its application
were based on the tripod: Land Use, Road System and Public Transportation
developed together.
During the 1966-70 period the plan of the Central Slow Traffic ring to protect
the central area and the Structural Sector Project were detailed. The Structural
Sector was composed by the Trinary System, a corridor of buses only, sided
by slow traffic roadways, and two parallel streets for fast traffic.
In 1971 began the implementation of the plan, first with implantation of the
Flower Street Pedestrian Area, the first in the country. Notwithstanding other
uses, the transformation of the most important downtown street into
a pedestrian area was symbolic to signalize the start of great transformations
in the city, demonstrating clearly the priority of the people over the car.
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During the 1971-74, the creation of great parks, woods and massive street tree
planting was initiated having as outcome the today’s ratio of 50m² of green area
per inhabitant transforming Curitiba in a “bio-city”.
In 1974 the Express Bus - a new model designed to operate in the axis, with
capacity to transport 100 passengers - begins to operate in the North-South
Axis, a 20 km long axis. The city had approximately 700.000 inhabitants and
all bus lines, including the new North-South Axis line were transporting 500.000
passengers per day.
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In 1975 twelve Feeder Bus lines were physically integrated to the North-South
Axis in their two Bus Terminals, thus beginning the integration process. At that
time 14% of the whole system was integrated.
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In 1980 the East and West Axes with its 22 km long were inaugurated.
The Integrated Transportation Network - RIT was set up allowing the fare
and physical integration involving several types of bus services and the possibility
of making several itineraries with the payment of a single fare. The passenger
paying one fare can use the all system changing the busses at the Bus Terminals.
The new, Articulated Bus with capacity of transporting 160 passengers entered
in operation in the Express Lines of Boqueirão Axis.
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1992 - The new Bi-articulated Bus, 25 m long and with capacity to transport
270 passengers began the operations on the Boqueirão Axis.
2006 - A total of 93% of all public transportation are tariff and physically integrated.
2007 - Beginning of the construction of the Green Line - a Sixth Axis, intending
to be the first metropolitan axis 22 km long. The Green Line will be the greatest
avenue of Curitiba designed with a new concept of an urban avenue.
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3. EFECTIVENESS OF THE CASE
Integrations at the Bus Terminals combined with the same fare allowing
the total use of the system guarantee the full accessibility to all urban areas.
From this stand point Curitiba, today, maybe described as an ‘Open City’,
once people can reach everywhere by bus.
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In 1964, 80% of passengers using public transportation had as destination the
central area. Recent research on the North-South Axis demonstrates that 55%
of the all passenger’s destinations was to the South Axis, 26% was to the North
Axis and only 19% was to the central area.
Today, existing data demonstrates the most frequently modals used by people
living in Curitiba.
Van - 1.16 -
As to environmental issues, given the fact that 44% of the people interviewed
have car, it is easy to verify the diminishing of emissions of CO2 due to the
bus-oriented pattern of development, the “Integrated Bus System” of Curitiba.
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The Value of The Case in The Future
Urban mobility and accessibility in the fast growing cities all over the world
is one of the most important issues regarding urban development. Urban traffic
problems are common not only in large cities but also in medium and even
in small cities.
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Case Master Plan
The Curitiba’s Pavilion, a light poliedric metal structure, with 220 m2 will be
built in an area of 600 to 800 m2. The exposition area will be a continuous
space excepted by a small auditorium for 20 to 30 people. The Pavilion will
be surrounded by a garden designed by a landscape architect and two totems
to indicate its entrance. At night media projections will be made on the external
walls of the Pavilion.
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Themes and Medias of Exhibition
Entrance
“Electronic Door” - The visitor is invited by a sound
system to say the word CURITIBA as a password
to open the door and enter in the Pavilion.
Station 1
A panel showing general information about the
Master Plan and about Curitiba’s urban planning
process highlighting land use, road system, public
transportation and the environmental approach.
Station 2
Digital information about the System’s concept and
banners showing the Road System hierarchy, the Bus
System and the bus types. In this Station the visitor will
find information of the beginning of the implementation
of the System, back in 1974 when the transportation
capacity was of 500.000 passengers per day.
Station 3
A scale model demonstrating the evolution of the
System step by step until today. In a big screen,
the visitor will experience a bi-articulated bus trip
from the stand point of view of the bus driver.
In panels the visitor will see the on-level boarding
and disembarking.
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Station 4
A screen will show the new features proposed to
update the System allowing the special bi-articulated
busses operating on the dedicated lanes to overtake.
These busses will stop only at the Bus Terminals and
will have traffic priority at the intersections. The solution
will enhance the bus operational speed and consequently
the number of passenger transported. Going on,
the visitor will see on a screen the Green Line, currently
under construction, a new public transportation axis
that incorporates significant environmental concepts,
such as biofuels and a Linear Park with native plants.
Special Station
Each hour ten visitors will be chosen to make a virtual
trip through the Parks network and other touristic points
of Curitiba.
Exit
When leaving the exposition the visitor will receive
a folder or a DVD card containing graphic or digital
information about the exposition. A special brochure
about the Curitiba’s Integrated Bus System History
is going to be issued to present special authorities
visiting the Pavilion.
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Contact Person
Eduardo Lopes Pereira Guimarães
Secretary of the Secretariat of International Relations and Protocol
Chairman of the EXPO 2010 COMMITTEE
edguimaraes@pmc.curitiba.pr.gov.br
internacional@pmc.curitiba.pr.gov.br
Mailing Address
Palácio 29 de Março
Avenida Cândido de Abreu, 817 - Centro Cívico
Curitiba - Paraná - Brazil
80530-908
Mailing Address
IPPUC
Rua Bom Jesus, 669 - Cabral
Curitiba - Paraná - Brazil
80035-010
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