Zero-fare buses: Study predicts cost of R$ 78 billion

A study released on Wednesday (26), commissioned by the Parliamentary Front in Defense of Zero Fare, predicts that implementing zero fare on buses in 706 cities in the country by 2026 would cost R$ 78 billion. Currently, the cost of the bus system is R$ 65 billion, according to the research, a value that would increase by 20% if the measure were implemented next year. The projections do not include modes such as metro and train, whose cost is estimated at R$ 15 billion per year. Conducted by researchers from different institutions, the analysis was coordinated by the Institute of Political Science at UnB and has the support of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the Nossas Network. The initiative was financed by the mandates of Jilmar Tatto (PT-SP), Luiza Erundina (PSOL-SP), Érika Kokay (PT-DF), and Talíria Petrone (PSOL-RJ).