The new public passenger transport system for Flores Island will be implemented in September. After the results of the international call for tenders, the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology signed the service provision contract with the company União de Transportes dos Carvalhos, Lda on Tuesday, an investment over 2.3 million Euros.
From now onwards, the Flores islanders will be provided with a five-route system (Ponta Delgada - Santa Cruz - Lajes - Fajã Grande - Santa Cruz), divided into three distinct periods: weekdays (school time), weekdays (non-school time) and summer time.
With these routes defined in public service, “the new public passenger transport system will and ensure a higher influx of passengers during school time, thus automatically adjusting the routes and timetables during non-school time, when there is a reduced influx of passengers,” mentioned José Contente at the signing ceremony of the contract.
The Regional Secretary also emphasised that the proposed timetables take into account the need to ensure the arrival of students to schools during school time as well as the arrival to their respective villages at the end of the school day.
Moreover, José Contente also pointed out that with this public transport system for the island of Flores, “any citizen may travel from one side of the island to the other side by changing route. The two villages will have regular routes in the morning, early afternoon and at the end of the day during all weekdays, thus allowing a greater mobility of passengers between municipalities.”
During summer time –July and August – the resort area of Fajã Grande will be provided with regular routes, express to Santa Cruz via Estrada do Mato (Route 5) and Vila das Lajes (Route 3) so that users may benefit from this beach area during the day.
With regard to the town of Santa Cruz, a mini urban circuit will be implemented, allowing all routes to pass by the main sites of that village, including the airport area, the Town Hall, the Secondary School and the Municipal Garden.
According to José Contente, “the new model of public passenger transport will significantly improve compared to the current service rendered by the Municipality Association of Flores Island, therefore ensuring a quality public transport service.”
The Regional Secretary reiterates the government’s intention of providing Azorean passengers with a quality public passenger transport with accessible fares, safer, comfortable and eco-friendly vehicles. “We are taking another step to make public transport more attractive in the Azores and this good experience, based on an international public call for tenders, is a decisive step to increase the use of public transport in the Azores.”
The company to which the public passenger transport service was awarded, União de Transportes dos Carvalhos, Lda, located in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia has already shown interest in moving its tax domicile to the Azores, José Contente announced, adding that “it is an advantage for the company as well as for the regional finances as the income tax and the value added tax are 30 percent lower in the Azores, thus attracting external investment and companies with this economic and tax scheme, which is favourable for the Region.”