Metro do Porto Commences Second Phase of Boavista Metrobus Amidst Political Friction
Metro do Porto, the public transport operator for the Porto metropolitan area, has officially initiated the second phase of construction for its new metrobus line on Avenida da Boavista. The company announced that the works, which began on September 22, proceeded only after receiving full authorization from the Porto Municipal Council, despite recent objections from the city's Municipal Assembly.
The project involves the creation of a dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor along one of Porto's most important avenues. According to a statement from Metro do Porto, the necessary permits for traffic conditioning and lane narrowing were issued by the Municipal Mobility Department in an official dispatch, NUD/569971/2025/CMP. This authorization covers the sections between Rua de Jorge Reinel and Avenida do Dr. Antunes Guimarães, and a segment near Rua Miguel Torga, with work scheduled to continue until December 7, 2025.
The project, with an estimated total investment of €66 million financed through Portugal's Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), aims to enhance public transport efficiency, reduce emissions, and provide a high-quality connection between the city center and its western districts. The metrobus vehicles will be hydrogen-powered, aligning with the city's sustainability goals. The construction contract for this phase was awarded to a consortium comprising companies Alberto Couto Alves, S.A. and Alves Ribeiro, S.A.
The start of this phase has not been without controversy. The Porto Municipal Assembly recently passed a unanimous motion criticizing Metro do Porto for what it termed an "inadmissible desrespect" by starting the works, which have involved the felling of some trees along the avenue. This followed a request from the City Council itself in April to revise the project's design for the section adjacent to the Parque da Cidade to better protect an existing cycle path and mature trees.
In a detailed letter to the Assembly, outgoing Metro do Porto president Tiago Braga stated that the current works explicitly exclude the sensitive Parque da Cidade section. He clarified that the scope of the intervention was agreed upon in direct correspondence with Mayor Rui Moreira in June and July 2025. These letters, Braga noted, established the precise urban and functional alterations and set the conditions for the project's consignment, which was formally signed on June 20, 2025, following a final validation meeting with municipal officials.
Braga expressed his bewilderment at the Assembly's position, reminding its members that Metro do Porto's institutional interlocutor is the Municipal Council, the city's executive branch. He firmly rejected any claims that the project's timing was politically motivated, stating the schedule is dictated by strict contractual deadlines and the urgent need to utilize the PRR funds. "The indispensability of respecting the binding calendars associated with Community Financing is an objective and unavoidable reason for the project's timeline," Braga's letter emphasized, warning that failure to comply could result in "grave and irreversible prejudice for the city and the region."
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The project's specifications detail a complete overhaul of the central reservation of Avenida da Boavista to create the dedicated bus channel. The intervention also includes the modernization of public lighting, renewal of pedestrian walkways, and upgrades to underground utilities. The total length of the new line will be approximately 8 kilometers, connecting Casa da Música to the Anémona roundabout in Matosinhos.
An official from the Porto Municipal Council's urban planning department, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the approved plans reflect a compromise. "The goal is to deliver a transformative public transport asset while minimizing the impact on the avenue's established landscape. The ongoing dialogue with Metro do Porto has been crucial in adapting the project to meet both mobility and environmental criteria," the source stated.
The construction is being executed in carefully planned phases to mitigate disruption. The current phase focuses on the central and western parts of the avenue, with significant traffic management plans in place. The consortium is required to adhere to strict environmental regulations regarding dust, noise, and waste management throughout the construction period.
The metrobus project is a key component of the broader strategic plan to decarbonize Porto's transport network. Upon completion, expected in late 2026, the new line is projected to serve over 30,000 passengers daily, offering a reliable and sustainable alternative to private car use along a heavily congested corridor.
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