On Monday, the Regional Secretary of Science, Technology and Equipment challenged Azorean transport companies to lower their tariffs, especially social and inter-modal passes, and to renovate their fleets with hybrid buses that are friendlier to the environment.
At the ceremony of the signing of the contracts of financial incentives, granted under the System of Incentives for the Reduction of Environmental Impact and Fleet Renewal in the Regular Public Transport of Passengers (SIRIART), José Contente defended more attractive tariffs for families.
He said, " I would like to challenge the companies to pursue these objectives so that, working with the Regional Government, we are able to offer better tariffs and reconsider schedules to improve the attractiveness and competitiveness of this service that you perform so well, thus alleviating transport costs for the families at the end of every month."
The Secretary cited the lowering of tariffs and the introduction of hybrid buses as the most important the priorities of the Government in the domain of public transport, reflecting a new approach to the environment that will make it advance to a new level of service, with less CO2 emissions and lower fuel costs.
José Contente assured the support of the Regional Government in the acquisition of new hybrid buses and said that, step by step, these "must be a part of the public transportation fleet."
In the framework of the six SIRIART contracts for the granting of financial incentives, the Regional Government intends to finance the acquisition of 20 buses, three public transport information systems, two fleet management IT systems and circuits and of three automatic machines for printing and selling tickets. Since 2000, the SIRIART programme has financed the acquisition of 172 buses.
The investment contracts that were signed on Wednesday will reach two million euro and will benefit the companies Varela & C.ª Lda, Auto Viação Micaelense, Caetano Raposo e Pereiras Lda, Empresa de Viação Terceirense Lda, Farias Lda, from the island of Faial and the the Empresa de Viação do Pico Cristiano Lda.
In addition to providing financial support to public transport companies, the SIRIART programme aims to protect the environment through the reduction CO2 emissions and is, simultaneously, a way of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels as a consequence of the acquisition of more energy-efficient public transportation buses.
José Contentes said that "evidently, security will be reinforced with the acquisition of new public transport vehicles. The levels of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere will be six times less when compared to the old buses."
As he underlined the quality and efficiency of the public transport system of the Region, the Secretary insisted on the idea that whether it be through the reduction of tariffs or through the reduction of fuel consumption, "there are real savings to be had by the companies with these purchases of new buses."
Annually, savings in fuel consumption can amount to 600 to 700 thousand euro, if compared to existing buses. The Secretary added that, cumulatively, this will mean a reduction in the energy bill of the Azores."