The expansion of Metro Sul do Tejo to Costa da Caparica, in the municipality of Almada, was announced in March last year, by the then Prime Minister, António Costa, during the Closer Government initiative in the district of Setúbal. Now, the Metropolitano de Lisboa announces that it will carry out studies, surveys and other work necessary to contract the extension of the network, which the populations of the municipalities of Almada and Seixal have already been demanding since the operation of the surface metro began there in 2007 .
Metropolitano de Lisboa was chosen by delegation from the State, “due to its national and international experience in this field”, explains the company itself in a statement. The decision took into account the nature of the project, namely “the degree of complexity of the procedures inherent to the implementation of investments in high-capacity on-site public transport systems (TCSP) and the deadlines associated with financing under the Climate Action Program and Sustainability (PACS)”.
The Portugal 2030 PACS foresees an allocation of 3.1 billion euros. Financed by the Cohesion Fund, the amount is intended to finance projects within the defined priorities, including sustainable urban mobility. Considered a priority by the State, the extension of the surface light rail system from the south bank of the Tagus to Costa de Caparica could cost up to 1.65 million euros, plus VAT at the legal rate in force.
Currently with three lines in operation – Blue Line (which connects Cacilhas to Arroios), Yellow Line (which connects Corroios to Pragal) and Green Line (which connects Cacilhas to the University, in Monte da Caparica) – the Metro Sul do Tejo transports more 16 million passengers per year. The connection between Metro Sul do Tejo and Costa de Caparica, which will now be studied, should ensure rapid and structuring connectivity between the University Campus of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and Costa da Caparica, extending over a corridor that will serve Trafaria, São João da Caparica, Quinta do Torrão, Quinta de Santo António and Costa da Caparica.
According to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Action Plan, the light rail network project on the south bank of the Tagus envisages other connections, without an implementation schedule, namely in the municipality of Seixal, between Corroios and Fogueteiro, and in the municipalities of Seixal and Barreiro, between Fogueteiro, Seixal River Terminal, Barreiro River Terminal and the railway station at Lavradio. “In addition to the planned expansion phases, the MST Preliminary Project, established in the PROT-AML in force, also enshrined the possibility of extending this project to Costa da Caparica and the connection to Cacilhas via Cova da Piedade.”
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