The challenges of mobility, however, go beyond road conservation: the conditions of metropolitan transport directly influence the quality of life of those who live or work in Greater BH and depend on public services.
In the first seven months of this year, 5,434 complaints were registered about metropolitan transport, an average of 25 per day, according to data from the Minas Gerais Highway Department (DER-MG).
The main complaints include non-compliance with the timetable, passenger refusal and overcrowding.
Candidates for the government of Minas Gerais present different proposals for state highways and transport in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte. g1 found out what each of them defends in the plans presented to the Electoral Court and published reports on proposals relating to the topics below:
Next week, the last special report on the government's plans will address the environment.
See each candidate's plan below, in alphabetical order:
Alexandre Kalil (PDT)
Alexandre Kalil (PDT) says that highways will be one of his government's first infrastructure priorities, if elected. The idea is for the Minas Gerais Highway Department (DER-MG) to carry out a diagnosis of the state network and, based on this, a permanent road conservation program is structured.
The candidate proposes that resources allocated to the Rodoanel "legally subject to redestination" be directed to the recovery of state highways, initially for pothole filling actions and, later, for longer lasting interventions. It also talks about creating a road safety policy based on the places and times with the most accidents.
The government plan advocates that highway concession contracts provide clear obligations for the private entity, in addition to inspection mechanisms, penalties and reasonable tariffs. Furthermore, he talks about recovering Minas Gerais' leading role on the railway agenda.
In relation to metropolitan transport, the document proposes the reorganization of the system based on people's needs and flows between municipalities, so that buses, subways and other forms of transport are planned as a network.
Ben Mendes (Mission)
Ben Mendes (Mission) proposes transferring all "economically sustainable" road lots to the private sector in the first two years of government. He defends auctions based on the criterion of lowest toll value combined with quick investment triggers, with the condition that toll collection begins only after duplication and third lane works.
The candidate talks about reducing and limiting the deadline for releasing licensing for highway duplication and implementation works by up to 90 days. She also proposes the complete restructuring of DER-MG, transforming it into a "lean regulatory and supervisory body".
The government plan also suggests an application for drivers to report potholes and structural problems on roads. The idea is that contracts with dealerships provide for automatic fines if reported problems are not repaired on time.
The document does not present specific proposals on metropolitan bus transport, but advocates implementing regional rail passenger transport.
Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicans)
Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicans) defends the prioritization of public investments in state highways and the inspection of current concession contracts. He proposes making the application of adjustments in toll rates conditional on the completion of planned interventions by companies.
The candidate talks about strengthening the DER-MG structure, for the continuous execution of paving and maintenance of the road network, and about unlocking the Rodoanel works – or redirecting the resources planned for strategic road works, "if impediments persist".
Another idea is to create a digital public panel with information about contracts, deadlines, values and percentages of execution of public works on highways. There is also a proposal to modernize the railway network.
For metropolitan transport, the government plan advocates performance-based monitoring, in addition to tariff, physical and operational integration.
Flávio Roscoe (PL)
Flávio Roscoe's (PL) government plan proposes expanding the road network and advancing railway expansion, but does not detail how Roscoe intends to put these measures into practice.
The document advocates prioritizing, within the infrastructure budget, a minimum annual quota for the North, Jequitinhonha and Mucuri regions, so that investments in highway improvements are not concentrated in the Central Region.
The candidate does not present specific proposals for metropolitan transport.
Gabriel (MDB)
Gabriel (MDB) defends the carrying out of an annual infrastructure diagnosis, surveying the conditions and critical points of the highways, and the implementation of a program aimed at road safety. The idea is to identify, based on accident data, which roads should have priority for installing signage, maintaining and carrying out interventions.
The candidate proposes multi-year maintenance contracts for the road network, in which companies are responsible for the conservation of specific sections, in addition to structuring and raising funds for railway projects. He also talks about maintaining a qualified state technical core to structure projects, evaluate proposals, monitor contracts and dialogue with the private sector.
The government plan advocates planning the transport network considering the population's travel needs and access to state services, such as health. The document also proposes the integration through ticketing of municipal and metropolitan systems, when possible.
Furthermore, it suggests carrying out technical studies on the conditions of metropolitan public transport, with assessments on regularity, travel time, capacity, reliability and cost structure, in order to identify bottlenecks and develop alternative responses.
Henrique Areas (PCO)
The Henrique Areas government plan (PCO) does not present specific proposals for state highways or metropolitan transport. The text defends free transport passes for unemployed people and workers in the informal economy.
Indira Xavier (UP)
Indira Xavier (UP) proposes the expansion of investments for the maintenance of state highways and the review of concessions in the sector. She defends the reduction of toll fees and the increase in the compensation required from companies for improving roads.
The candidate suggests carrying out a study on existing road connections between regions of the state, to increase population mobility, but does not detail how this would be done.
The government plan also talks about nationalization of public transport and the strengthening of DER-MG.
The document does not mention specific proposals for metropolitan buses, but advocates the implementation of an urban passenger train throughout Greater BH, in addition to the use and expansion of railway lines.
Mateus Simões (PSD)
The candidate for reelection, Mateus Simões (PSD), proposes maintaining and improving the quality of the state road network, through results-oriented contracting models, and expanding the capacity and road safety of roads considered strategic for the economy and regional integration.
He advocates that investments be based on long-term logistical planning and priorities defined with the regions. Furthermore, it talks about expanding partnerships and concessions as an instrument to enable investments in infrastructure.
In relation to metropolitan bus transport, the government plan advocates the integration of the service with the metro.
Patrus Ananias (PT)
The government plan of Patrus Ananias (PT) proposes to implement a permanent program for the recovery and conservation of state highways that prioritizes improvements in pavement, drainage, bridges and shoulders and signage.
The document talks about increasing the safety of the state road network, by eliminating critical accident points and reinforcing the stability of slopes.
Patrus also advocates the modernization of road infrastructure management through intelligent transport systems. The idea is to monitor road conditions in real time, in order to guarantee information to users and a more agile response to accidents.
In relation to metropolitan transport, the candidate proposes the implementation of intermodal terminals and the expansion of the subway. He also mentions the recovery of strategic railway sections.
Rafael Duda (PSTU)
Rafael Duda (PSTU) defends the nationalization of the bus service and the implementation of a single urban transport company, which integrates buses, trains and subways, under the control of employees and users. He also talks about making road transport an appendix to metro-rail transport.
The candidate's government plan does not present proposals in relation to state highways.
Túlio Lopes (PCB)
Túlio Lopes (PCB) proposes the nationalization of bus lines and the creation of the Minas Gerais Transport Company, with a public fleet, integrated planning and social control. He defends zero tariffs, subsidized with resources from the Financial Compensation for the Exploration of Mineral Resources (CFEM).
The candidate also suggests the creation of popular councils, with deliberative power over lines, tariffs, contracts and working conditions, and the implementation of Light Rail Vehicles (VLTs) in metropolitan regions.
The government plan does not mention proposals for state highways, but advocates the recovery and nationalization of the railway network, with regional and urban trains for passengers.
