Erundina collects signatures for the ‘Zero Tariff PEC’ – 04/10/2023 – Mônica Bergamo

Federal deputy Luiza Erundina (PSOL-SP) has already collected 32 signatures in support of a Proposal for an Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) of her authorship that seeks to guarantee fare exemption for public transport throughout Brazil. In all, 171 signatories are needed for the proposal to be appreciated by the Chamber of Deputies.

The parliamentarian proposes the creation of a universal public transport system and without charging the user, along the lines of what already occurs with the SUS (Unified Health System). It would be funded through a contribution paid by employers and by owners of motor vehicles that use city roads.

“As with other social rights, such as health and education, the State cannot impose barriers, especially economic ones, for the exercise of the right to transport”, says Erundina. “The tariff represents, in practice, a barrier imposed on those who cannot afford the ticket prices”, he says.

The “Zero Tariff PEC”, as it was dubbed by the deputy’s mandate, was formulated together with entities such as the National Public Transport Association (ANTP), the Free Pass Movement (MPL) and the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection (Idec ). The Executive Secretariat for Transport and Urban Mobility of the City of São Paulo would also have contributed, according to the parliamentarian.

“The proposal has the effect of enabling the realization of the right to transport, guaranteed by the Constitution itself as a social right. The text establishes the bases for the legislation to be constructed in a way to distribute the benefits and responsibilities that involve the construction of a system of mobility truly universal and accessible to all”, says the federal deputy.

Last year, the idea of ​​eliminating public transport charges gained momentum in Brazil. In addition to the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), who said he was analyzing the idea, at least 11 cities started to adopt it. The issue was even discussed by the transition team of the Lula government.

As shown to Sheetone of the issues that could help advance the proposal, and which needs to be resolved at the federal level, is the transportation voucher.

Currently, companies pay the benefit only to employees who use buses and trains. One of the ideas to fund the free pass is to change the model: companies would pay the government a transport fee for all employees, with the amount per employee being lower than the current expenditure.

To date, no major metropolis has completely adopted zero tariffs, mainly because the costs of maintaining a system to transport millions of people per day are very high. In 2021, the city of São Paulo spent BRL 3.3 billion on subsidies for the bus network, in addition to the amount paid by passengers.

The capital of São Paulo, however, has already pioneered other changes in transport. In 2004, it launched the Bilhete Único, which allows more than one trip with a single charge, in a given period. The change opened up more possibilities for users to travel, especially those on the outskirts.

When the Bilhete Único was integrated into the subway, a few years later, the total number of passengers in the wagons rose sharply, showing that there was a great pent-up demand for transport.

Cities that are now adopting zero tariffs in Brazil are also seeing strong demand. In , the charge was abolished in August 2021. Since then, total bus trips have gone from around 500 thousand to more than 2 million monthly.

---

PLATFORM

The director of Sesc São Paulo, Danilo Santos de Miranda, and the presenter Marília Gabriela attended the premiere of the play “A Cerimônia do Adeus”, held at Teatro Anchieta, at Sesc Consolação, in São Paulo, last Saturday (8). Directed by Ulysses Cruz, the show has actress Malu Galli in its cast. Actress Helena Ranaldi honored the event.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS It is MANOELLA SMITH}

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.