Since 2023, São Paulo has had the news that it would receive its first public water transport. The vessel, which will be called Aquático-SP, will navigate the Billings Dam between the Pedreira and Grajaú regions and will make it easier for up to 385,000 people in the South Zone to get around.
The new form of transportation will begin operating on May 13. However, the State Court had suspended the inauguration in order to better assess the environmental impacts of the waterway system, which will sail through one of São Paulo’s largest water reservoirs.
After delays, transportation finally begins
The system operates between 5am and 9pm, without charging a fare. The two largest boats, Bororé and Santo Amaro, can take up to 60 passengers and have air conditioning, toilets, Wi-Fi and USB ports. The two smaller ones, Biguá I and Biguá II, carry up to 30 people each. Together, they have carried more than 125,000 passengers!
News that preceded the inauguration of Aquático-SP:
What public water transportation will be like
Currently, traveling by land between the regions of Grajaú and Pedreira (just over 15km apart) can take up to two hours, depending on the traffic on the roads. The new public water transport promises to connect the two regions in less than half an hour, navigating the waters of one of the capital’s largest dams.
Initially, there will be two boats. Each one will accommodate up to 60 seated passengers and will have air conditioning, toilets, places adapted for wheelchairs and bicycle racks. In addition, the City Hall assures that life jackets will be available, including models for children and obese people.
Aquático-SP trips will take place every thirty minutes, daily, from 6am to 8pm. Fares will be the same as conventional bus fares (R$4.40) and there will be integration via the Single Ticket with other forms of public transport in the capital. On average, the Aquático-SPo is expected to carry up to 10,000 passengers a day.
Suspension of operations on the Billings reservoir
On March 26, the São Paulo State Courts suspended Aquático-SP’s operations. The request came from the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Environment.
The agency considers it necessary to carry out further studies into the environmental impacts of transportation, for example, the pollutants that could be released into the water as a result of the boats passing through. This is the fourth time that the inauguration of the system has been postponed, since September 2023.
