MOVE Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
As one of the host cities for Brazil’s 2014 World Cup, Belo Horizonte launched its MOVE bus rapid transit (BRT) system on March 8, 2014, expanding access to public transport for populations previously reliant on sub-standard transport or private cars. Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brazil.
MOVE’s inaugural ride transported Mayor Mario Lacerda, public officials, members from the Brazilian Ministry of Cities and Ministry of Planning, EMBARQ Brazil experts, citizens, and the press on a 17-minute trip – five times faster than the usual rush hour commute in Belo Horizonte. Photo by Luísa Zottis/EMBARQ Brazil.
MOVE is considered a milestone in the history of public transport in Belo Horizonte. Once fully operational, the full system is expected to carry 700,000 passengers each day, connecting disparate parts of the city and rejuvenating a once-declining downtown. Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brazil.
The MOVE BRT buses and stations are equipped with information panels, GPS, cameras, and quick-touch payment systems, as well as screens with real-time info on routes and schedules, all of which makes it more user-friendly and enjoyable. Photo by Luísa Zottis/EMBARQ Brazil.
Besides those who use the bus, the areas around the station are benefitting, as new business and development around the MOVE BRT corridor is bringing commerce and public space back to Belo Horizonte’s downtown. Photo by Luísa Zottis/EMBARQ Brazil.
With the launch of the MOVE BRT, Belo Horizonte is becoming an example of high quality public transportation management, in Brazil and for cities around the world. Belo Horizonte‘s Mayor Marcio Lacerda went so far as to state, “We are beginning a major transformation for urban mobility in Belo Horizonte with EMBARQ Brazil’s support. MOVE represents more quality, comfort and agility for public transportation.” Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brazil.
Belo Horizonte, one of the host cities for Brazil’s 2014 World Cup, launched its MOVE bus rapid transit (BRT) system on March 8, 2014, which will drastically improve urban mobility in the quickly growing city. Today the city is home to 2.5 million people, while it was designed in 1897 to hold just 100,000 inhabitants. This unplanned urban growth has created immense strain on the city’s infrastructure, including severe traffic congestion and air pollution. To improve Belo Horizonte’s transport system and make the city more livable, EMBARQ Brazil has worked with the city’s transport planners since 2010 to help launch a safe, reliable, and efficient MOVE BRT system. MOVE connects disparate parts of the city and travels five times faster than a car during rush hour. Offering both travel time savings and amenities like air conditioning and pre-paid boarding, Belo Horizonte’s MOVE is on the front line in delivering people-oriented mobility.
Read more on Belo Horizonte's MOVE BRT system:
MOVE: Transforming bus transportation in Belo Horizonte
MOVE BRT: A new path for urban mobility in Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte launches its second bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor