BE/Açores questioned the Regional Government about problems encountered in the first two weeks of the new public passenger transport company’s activity on the island of São Miguel and what it did to “avoid and correct” failures.
© PJ
12/09/2026
by
Lusa
O party said today in a statement that the operation of the new model of public road transport on the largest azorean island “has been the subject of many criticisms by users”.
Among the complaints are situations of lack of synchronization between careers, prolonged waiting times and connections that are no longer ensured, as well as serious problems in the conservation of some vehicles, which call into question the comfort and confidence of passengers.
“ In addition, the Junta de Freguesia das Calhetas denounced that children are being left 1.5 kilometres from the School Rui Galvão de Carvalho, being forced to walk the rest of the way, and that they began to share places with passengers, when previously they had dedicated transportation ", indicated.
According to BE/Açores, the Regional Directorate of Education and Educational Administration confirmed that the EBI schools of Água de Pau, EBI of Maia and EBI of Ribeira Grande “have recorded constraints related to gaps between school hours and bus schedules, faults in passing in certain locations and operational difficulties in the stops”.
The party considered that the occurrences “ raise serious doubts about the operational capacity of the concessionaire”, considering it essential that the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) “ensures compliance with minimum standards of quality, safety, maintenance and reliability in the public road transport service”.
Thus, the Block filed a request in the regional parliament to know what evaluation the executive makes on the operational capacity of the concessionaire “to the operational failures reported by users and the deficiencies observed in the conservation of vehicles”.
It also wants to know what measures have been taken to ensure that vehicles used in public road transport service meet minimum safety, comfort, air conditioning and maintenance requirements.
The party further questioned what corrective actions were determined, what deadlines for execution and how the quality of the service is being monitored.
On August 25, the only deputy of BE Azoriano, António Lima, also questioned the Regional Government on school transport on the island of São Miguel after having emerged “doubts” with the entry into force of the new contract for granting the public service.
On 1 September, the new contract for the granting of public land transport service came into force, under the responsibility of Vale do Ave.
According to the Azorean executive, the new public transport system called Azores Bus represents an investment of more than EUR 44 million over 15 years, constituting a “strategic commitment to improving the quality of life of the Micaelese, to strengthening the competitiveness of the island and to promoting its territorial cohesion”.
The new system has more than a hundred buses, offering better comfort, safety and accessibility conditions for residents and visitors, indicated.
Regional Secretary of Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, Berta Cabral, said, quoted in a press release, that among the main news, are the introduction of new express links, which will reduce travel times and bring different areas closer to the island, besides the creation of the “Zona de Ponta Delgada”, which establishes a single tariff regardless of the number of routes used within the municipality.
“ The objective is clear: to place the citizen at the center of mobility, creating a more efficient, accessible, modern and close to people”, he said.