Can you imagine going to work by cable car? It seems like a distant idea, but perhaps it will become a reality for São Paulo residents. After all, the capital’s city hall announced this week that it is evaluating a preliminary project for the construction of a cable car in São Paulo, which would make it easier to get around in steep areas.
The proposal, which comes from the Urban Planning and Licensing Department (SMUL) and São Paulo Urbanismo, is currently under analysis by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB). If approved, the project could benefit thousands of residents in the North Zone, especially in Brasilândia.
What is the proposal for a cable car in São Paulo?
The aim of the urban cable car is to improve urban mobility in Brasilândia, a district at the foot of the Serra da Cantareira with rugged terrain, narrow streets and a high population density.
The line is expected to be 4.6 kilometers long, with cabins for up to 10 people that will be able to carry more than 3,000 passengers per hour, in both directions. The estimated cost is R$2.84 billion, which includes the installation of the transport, the expropriation of houses and possible alterations to roads.
The route proposes integrating the CEU Paz region, in Jardim Paraná, with Avenida Cantídio Sampaio and the future Brasilândia station, on Line 6-Orange of the metro. If approved, it could benefit 243,000 residents of the region.
A similar proposal emerged during the elections
During the 2022 elections, then mayoral candidate Pablo Marçal (PRTB) suggested the construction of an urban cable car system in São Paulo, which would connect highways and pockets of cars with other regions of the capital.
At the time, the proposal received criticism from other candidates, including current mayor Ricardo Nunes, who said it would be “unfeasible” and “crazy”.
With the emergence of the new proposal, Nunes denied inconsistency and said that the project currently being evaluated is not related to Marçal’s old one. This is because the PRTB candidate suggested the creation of a belt of cable cars in São Paulo, while the proposal for Brasilândia is related to a demand from the district, due to its geographical characteristics.
