ACAN :: Trends In Curitiba, The Capital of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System

Architecture In Our Urban Environments, Metropolis And Megacities.

Curitiba, The Capital of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System.

By Odigie Agatha

as against the one- size- fits- all approach such as the clearing of shanty towns usually a favoured means adopted by most governments in developing countries to resolve issues associated with rapid urban development.

The foundation of Curitiba’s sustainable urban development greatness was laid in 1968 with the adoption of the Curitiba Master Plan. The master plan was prepared by a team from Architecture School of the Federal University of Paraná led by Jamie Lerner, an architect who later became a three time mayor of Curitiba (1971 – 1974, 1979 – 1983, 1989 – 1992), two time governor of the state of Paraná (1995 – 2002) and president of the IUA- International Union of Architects ( 2002 – 2005).

In architecture and urban planning, green has been the new black for a long time, apologies to our friends in the fashion industry as sustainability is now synonymous with design.

Though it falls far short of the 10,000,000 inhabitants mark to qualify as a megacity, Curitiba, capital of the predominantly agrarian state of Parana in Brazil with its roughly 1.8 million inhabitants is a jewel and ‘poster boy’ in urban planning. In a 2007 international magazine survey, the city placed third in the 15 Green Cities’ of the world. American Reader’s Digest magazine rated it as the best Brazilian City to inhabit. Of recent, it was recommended by UNESCO as a model city for the reconstruction of the war devastated cities of Afghanistan.

So what makes this city which was one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup outstrip other cities in far more developed countries in terms of sustainable development? Its genius lies in the brilliant micro-management of its urban development

With political will at his disposal as mayor, Lerner, mindful of the lean resources available and the behemoth challenges faced by Curitiba as a burgeoning urban centre commenced the implementation of the 1968 Curitiba Master Plan using innovative and sustainable solutions.

One of such unorthodox and sustainable reforms was applied to the region’s public transportation with the introduction of the Rede Integrada de Transporte or the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System for which Curitiba has garnered world wide acclaim and accolades. Initially, provision was made for a subway in the region by the Brazilian Federal Government, but Lerner discarded this plan and instead came up with the alternative of using buses. Subways or heavy rails upon closer scrutiny would cost ten times the amount for light rails which in turn cost ten times a bus system. With the dedicated bus lanes, these buses would run at speeds comparable to the light rail.

Asides from the introduction of the BRT System, Jaime Lerner also implemented social reforms, chief amongst which was an exchange programme that targeted the urban poor resident in shanty towns normally unserviceable by the municipal waste trucks. Waste from the slums are brought by the residents to designated collection points in exchange for groceries and BRT tickets thus ensuring that the slums are kept clean. Another socio- economical measure implemented was the use of ‘municipal sheep’ instead of the conventional tractors to keep the vegetation of Curitiba’s vast expanse of parks under control. The parks were created in areas susceptible to flooding. Proceeds from the sale of the municipal sheep wool are used to fund children’s programmes.

The list of Curitiba’s sustainable urban, geographical and social reforms which were initiated by Jaime Lerner in 1971 and remain till date is seemingly endless with the citizenry reaping the benefits- low crime rates, absence of street gangs, better quality of living, healthier environment, etc. Little wonder that he is a living legend.

Curitiba’s public transport system infrastructure consists of concentric circles of local bus routes connected to five major radial routes that converge on the city centre. The 270 capacity custom made bi-articulated (three section) Volvo buses accounts for over 70% of daily travel. It is estimated that 1100 buses make 12500 trips ferrying more than 1, 600,000 passengers daily. This has evidently led to reduced vehicular traffic and atmospheric pollution.

An interesting feature of the public transport system is the bus station. Curitiba’s conventional bus stations or transit stops were remodelled in 1991 to become modern raised platforms of open ended glass tubes mimicking the ambience of a train station. The 357 tube stations that dot Curitiba’s landscape have provisions for handicap access.

The Lagos Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) System, a 22km stretch from Mile 12 through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to CMS was commissioned on March 17 2008. According to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), its BRT System uses 220 buses to move more than 200, 000 passengers daily.

Perhaps, sometime in the foreseeable future, besides utilization of the Bus Rapid Transport system (BRT) in Nigerian urban centres like Lagos, other geographical and social reforms that have positive impacts with minimal disruption to the urban environment as evidenced in Curitiba would be implemented.