BRT Radial Leste is São Paulo’s newest urban mobility project, which promises to transform the daily routine of those who cross the city. Designed to serve approximately 400,000 people per day, the new system will connect the Center to the East Zone through an exclusive corridor. This will reduce travel time by up to 50%.
The acronym BRT comes from Bus Rapid Transit . The system consists of exclusive concrete central lanes and dedicated stations that allow payment before boarding, optimizing travel flow.
What the Radial Leste BRT will be like
The first section of the project is already under construction and will be 9.8 kilometers long . Scheduled for delivery in August 2026, the section will connect the Parque Dom Pedro II Terminal to the Penha Station on Line 3-Red.
In addition to the exclusive bus lane, the project includes the creation of a bike path and a bike bridge near the Pires do Rio Viaduct. The surrounding sidewalks will also be adapted to ensure accessibility.
The Radial Leste BRT will be connected to the Belém, Tatuapé, and Carrão stations and, in the future, will connect to the new stations on lines 2–Green and 11–Coral in the Penha region.
Expansion of the rapid transit network in the capital
In addition to Radial, other projects of this type are on the agenda in São Paulo. This is the case of BRT Aricanduva, a 13.6-kilometer branch line that will connect the intersection of Radial Leste with Avenida Aricanduva to the EMTU’s São Mateus Terminal. If it gets off the ground, the project could benefit up to 290,000 users per day, serving neighborhoods such as Vila Matilde and Cidade Líder.
Finally, the ABC BRT promises to connect the cities of Santo André, São Bernardo, São Caetano, Diadema, and Mauá to the capital. The project was first announced in 2021, and after a five-year wait, the system is scheduled to open in October this year.
