Priscilla Sakalem, Secretary of State for Transport and Urban Mobility, admits that “it will not be possible to implement” the reduction in metro and train fares in Rio to R$4.70. This possibility, announced by his predecessor, Washington Reese, in May, was dependent on the signature of Governor Claudio Castro. He cites the current portfolio holder – in a letter sent to the Sub-Secretariat of Communications and Advertising, signed on the 30th – as the reason for the financial constraints faced by the State and requests the suspension of an advertising campaign, with a budget of R $ 15 million, that would spread the news.
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In May, O GLOBO heard from the then Minister of Transport, who estimated that rail transport would increase by 500,000 passengers per day with this tariff reduction. The subway – which currently costs R$7.90 – will increase from 650,000 to 900,000 users, while the train (currently with a fare of R$7.60) will rise from 358,000 customers to 600,000. At the time, Washington Rees estimated the cost to the public treasury at R$500 million in 2026, figures that would come from the Fund for the Fight and Eradication of Poverty (FECP).
This year, on April 7, Reis sent a letter to Nicola Miccioni, the Civil Secretary of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Undersecretary of Social Communications and Advertising, Igor Marquez, requesting the implementation of an advertising campaign – called “Tarifa RJ” – that would advertise “the fairest and most accessible value for the population.” The next day, the event was approved by the then Minister of Transport, after an exchange of letters.
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The amount is then distributed to four advertising agencies responsible for production, media and media implementation. The process, which had been suspended since July, was resumed on July 30, when Sakalem, after stating that the reduction in subway and train fares could not be implemented, said that “it is necessary to suspend the planning of the propaganda campaign.” The Undersecretary for Social Communications and Advertising was then summoned to take “appropriate measures.”
This year, ferry prices have been reduced, based on an agreement between Barcas Rio and the city of Niteroi. The Charitas line is no longer priced at R$21, to R$7.70, while the Arariboia, Cocotá and Paquetá lines, which previously cost R$7.70, now cost R$4.70.
The state government stated in a statement that it “has not abandoned the general policy of reducing transport prices,” but stated that the decision “must take into account responsibility for public accounts given the budget deficit projections for 2026.” According to the memorandum, “The State Secretariat for Transport and Urban Mobility was commissioned to conduct studies on how to make the new tariff workable, and to assess its impact on the state’s current financial reality and future prospects.” Regarding the advertising campaign, the government informed that “unused resources have been returned and can be used for other work.”
MetrôRio also commented on the decision, saying “it considers it necessary to implement a tariff policy that makes rail transport more accessible to the residents of Rio de Janeiro.” The concessionaire confirmed that Rio has the most expensive fares in Brazil, “precisely because it is the only system in the country that does not have universal support for its passengers.” According to the company, in other cities, the subsidy is more than 50% of the value of the technical tariff (operating cost): “If a similar measure were implemented in Rio de Janeiro, the general tariff would be less than R$ 4.00.” Finally, MetrôRio informed that it “will continue to liaise with the state government to analyze best practices and policies with the aim of contributing to the realization of a tariff policy solution that encourages the use of high capacity modes of transport”.
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