BNDES, Coppe, and the Rio de Janeiro State Government sign a Memorandum of Understanding to expand metro lines 2, 3, and 4

Projects were identified in the National Urban Mobility Study (ENMU)

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the State Government of Rio de Janeiro signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, the 25th, with the aim of coordinating the structuring of urban mobility projects in the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region, as identified by the National Urban Mobility Study (ENMU). The signing took place at the Guanabara Palace, the seat of the Rio de Janeiro state government.

As defined in the memorandum, the BNDES will structure the expansion of the metro-rail system, including: Line 2 (Estácio-Carioca/Praça XV, with potential expansion from Pavuna to Baixada Fluminense), Line 3 (Carioca/Praça XV–Niterói–São Gonçalo–Itaboraí), and Line 4 (Jardim Oceânico–Alvorada–Recreio). For each of these lines, the studies required under the New Growth Acceleration Program (Novo PAC) will be conducted.

In the case of Line 3, the work will be carried out in partnership with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). The studies produced by Coppe/UFRJ as part of the Prisma Project—which already include a technical, operational, and urban planning assessment—will be utilized. The memorandum also provides for complementary institutional measures, such as advancing metropolitan governance and fare integration, with the participation of the Rio Metropolis Institute (IRM), an autonomous agency linked to the state government that is responsible for planning and implementing public policies in the metropolitan region.

“The projects included in this memorandum of understanding are projects that the BNDES has already been studying. They are included in the National Urban Mobility Study. And now we are going to begin developing the initial phases of these projects,” said Nelson Barbosa, director of Planning and Institutional Relations at the BNDES. “We will identify what needs to be updated and get everything ready so that the next administration, if it so desires, can begin implementing these projects,” he added.

The interim governor of Rio de Janeiro, Judge Ricardo Couto, emphasized that the projects contribute to greater integration of the metropolitan region. “With this agreement, well-defined studies will be handed over to the next governor. These are projects that incorporate an economic vision that is very well suited to Rio de Janeiro. We believe that the urban mobility study led by the BNDES offers the most appropriate framework for the state. And when the state makes use of a study conducted by a development bank, there are also cost savings. The state does not need to hire another entity to conduct this type of study.”

In addition to Nelson Barbosa and Ricardo Couto, the memorandum was signed by Glaydston Mattos Ribeiro, a professor in the Transportation Engineering Program at Coppe, and by IRM President Roberto Leão. “An adequate transportation system can boost various sectors of the economy, and this joint effort can contribute significantly to the development of the state of Rio de Janeiro,” commented Glaydston.

ENMU – ENMU is a project mapping and policy proposal initiative designed to lay the groundwork for the transformation of public transit in 21 metropolitan regions in Brazil. The study compiles a database of 187 urban mobility projects, representing more than 3,000 km of subways, BRTs, trains, and light rail systems.

ENMU shows, for example, the impact of each proposal on reducing pollutant and greenhouse gas (GEE) emissions and on traffic accidents, as well as the projected number of shipments per day and investment. The projects are analyzed based on more than 100 technical-operational, economic-financial, socio-environmental, and urban planning indicators that enable their prioritization.

Together, the proposed initiatives could prevent 27,000 traffic accident victims and 3 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, reduce travel costs by 11% and the population’s average commute time by 16%, generating social benefits exceeding R$ 400 billion. The impacts also extend to the supply chain, with the potential to create more than 1 million jobs and require up to 7,600 electric buses and 2,400 metro-rail cars.

The study was conducted between 2024 and 2026 and focuses on Brazil’s 21 most populous metropolitan areas. The initiative takes into account population and demand projections over a 30-year horizon, with the goal of supporting the planning of more integrated, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems.

* With support from the BNDES Communications Office