The Regional Secretariat for Science, Technology and Infrastructures invested nearly 14 million Euros the past year in the construction and renewal of regional roads across several islands, including the maintenance costs of the road network.

Over last year, 41 contract works were carried out in the Azores, of which 14 will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

These interventions in regional roads covered a total extension of 30 kilometres. On some islands, such as Santa Maria and Graciosa, the renewal of the road network has reached almost one hundred percent.

According to data presented by Regional Directorate for Infrastructures and Inland Transports, this governmental department has invested about one million Euros in the acquisition and installation of traffic signs and other road safety equipments, such as protective guardrails and passenger shelters.

In the area of road safety, a Government's priority, 145,000 Euros have been invested in awareness-raising campaigns and actions. The Azores are the national region with the lowest accident rate  in 2011, having registered a drop in the number of accidents as well as of minor and serious casualties.

The Regional Directorate also invested 2.2 million Euros in collective passenger transport last year. Moreover, the Government invested 1.2 million Euros to ensure the transport of passengers on weekends. The night bus service represented an investment of 250 thousand Euros.

Following the restructuring of public transport on the island of Flores, the Regional Directorate for Infrastructures and Inland Transports has allocated the sum of 265,000 Euros to the concessionaire to ensure the operation of services. Regarding the support to passengers, the Government has invested 235 thousand Euros in the implementation of the social pass.

The construction of the Maroiços Garden in Madalena do Pico and other contract works for the construction of public infrastructures and buildings, representing an investment of 700 thousand Euros.