Companies suspend 25 bus lines in Fortaleza this Monday (29)

Fortaleza’s public transportation users were caught off guard by the suspension of 25 bus lines on Monday morning (29). According to the Urban Transportation Company of Fortaleza (Etufor), the action was a unilateral decision by the Union of Passenger Transport Companies of the State of Ceará (Sindiônibus). In a statement, the municipal agency emphasized that none of the changes were authorized or planned in the official system. While not specifying the motivations for the changes but highlighting financial issues, Etufor pointed out in a note that the City Hall regularly pays subsidies for public transportation operation, totaling approximately R$16 million per month, equivalent to R$500,000 per day. Etufor stated, ‘Dialogue with Sindiônibus is constant, with the aim of finding solutions that do not harm either the companies or system users.’ The following bus lines, as confirmed by Sindiônibus, will not be in operation on Monday: 014 – Rodoviária/Aguanambi 2, 020 – Campus do Pici, 022 – Jardim das Oliveiras/Centro, 081 – Conj. Ceará/Ant. Bezerra 2, 091 – Expresso/Ant. Bezerra/Parangaba, 097 – Ant. Bezerra/Siqueira, 106 – Floresta/Centro, 200 – Ant. Bezerra/BRT/Centro, 217 – Estação/Pio Saraiva 2, 302 – Rodolfo Teófilo/José Bastos/Centro, 307 – Parangaba/Itaoca/Jardim América/Centro, 352 – Solar das Águas/Green Park/Parangaba, 374 – Aracapé/Centro, 400 – Osório de Paiva/Siqueira, 404 – Aeroporto/Rodoviária/Benfica/Centro, 501 – Bairro de Fátima/Rodoviária/Centro, 513 – Parangaba/UECE/Luciano Carneiro, 614 – Curió/Terminal Wash. Soares/Messejana, 633 – Passaré/Centro, 653 – Santa Fé/Messejana, 668 – Pq. Betânia/Messejana, 701 – Pq. Americano/Centro, 835 – Papicu/Câmara Municipal/Defensoria, 903 – Papicu/Varjota/Centro, 1310 – Siqueira/Hospital Universitário do Ceará. Sindiônibus stated to Diário do Nordeste that the fleet underwent a necessary adjustment, resulting from ‘technical studies.’ ‘The measure is essential to ensure the system’s continuity and fulfillment of responsibilities, such as salary payments and operation maintenance,’ the entity declared. According to Sindiônibus, the adjustment is necessary ‘given the current financial imbalance situation faced by the public transportation companies.’ The studies took into account fleet size, route and line analysis. Additionally, certain lines with higher financial deficits needed to be reduced or removed. More important lines that transport more passengers daily were reinforced with additional vehicles. ‘Sindiônibus highlights that the topic is being discussed with the Fortaleza City Hall and emphasizes that all changes are necessary to ensure the service’s continuity,’ the entity concluded in a statement.