Berta Cabral defends that Azores Bus opens new era of public mobility in São Miguel - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, defended today that the presentation of the Azores Bus is an important moment for São Miguel and, above all, for thousands of citizens who depend on public transport daily.

​The public presentation of the Azores Bus took place today in Ponta Delgada. For Berta Cabral, it "represents a profound transformation of the island's public transport system, the result of a rigorous planning process and a strategic vision oriented towards current and future mobility needs."

According to her, this change stems from the need to adapt the sector to the European legal framework and respond to the new challenges of mobility.

​The government official highlighted that the Azorean Government took the responsibility of carrying out the necessary tender procedures, transforming a legal obligation into an opportunity to modernise and improve the service provided to the population.

​"The goal is clear: placing citizens at the centre of mobility, creating a network that is more efficient, accessible, modern and closer to the people," she stated.

​The new system will feature more than a hundred buses, providing better comfort, safety and accessibility conditions for residents and visitors.

The operation will be complemented by the rollout of a new ticketing system, more digital services, new fare solutions, more effective information tools, optimisation of timetables and better coordination of the different routes.

Among the main new developments, the Regional Secretary highlighted the introduction of new express routes, which will reduce journey times and bring different parts of the island closer, as well as the creation of the “Ponta Delgada Zone,” which establishes a single fare regardless of the number of journeys within the municipality.

As an example, Berta Cabral mentioned that a user residing in Arrifes and working in Livramento will be able to make the two or three necessary connections with a single ticket, simplifying the use of the service and reducing costs for passengers.

The government official underlined that the Azores Bus will be a contemporary public mobility brand, aligned with the best European practices and prepared to respond to the challenges of the future. In this regard, she highlighting that "this reform has an important social component, having ensured a responsible and stable transition for the overwhelming majority of workers from the previous operators, particularly for bus drivers, whose experience and knowledge of the local reality are considered fundamental to the success of the new operation."

"Mobility is essential for economic development, social cohesion and equal opportunities," she stated.

​The new model represents an investment of over €44 million over 15 years. It is a strategic commitment to improving the quality of life of the São Miguel population, bolstering the island's competitiveness and promoting its territorial cohesion.

​For Berta Cabral, the entry into operation of the Azores Bus marks the beginning of a new stage for land mobility in São Miguel, based on a more modern, integrated and people-centred vision.

The Regional Secretary concluded her speech by expressing her gratitude to the three companies which, over a number of years, have provided public road transport on the island and are now handing over the reins to this new operating model.