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Bus Rapid Transit and Urban Development in Curitiba, Brazil

LOCATION
Curitiba, Brazil
OWNER/IMPLEMENTATION UNIT
The Municipal Government of Curitiba
KEY WORDS
Curitiba; BRT; urban development
PROJECT COMPLETION/EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE
1974
CASE DESCRIPTION

Curitiba is the capital of Parana State in southeastern Brazil. It covers an area of 432 square kilometers and has a population of 1 master plan. Bus lanes were established in the middle of selected roads in Curitiba ensuring the exclusive right of buses on dedicated lanes. In the 1970s, Curitiba’s urban plan focus on developing the city in a corridor style along several main axes, which was implemented beginning in 1974. The plan called for intense land development near the BRT lines. The Municipal Government only allowed regions within two blocks of the bus lines to carry out high-density development and strictly limited the density and height of buildings further away.

KEY DATA
Curitiba’s municipal government successfully integrated urban land development policies with urban transport planning. A bus-lane-centered division of land use and development intensity was implemented. The plot ratio of land next to four of the five BRT axial roads is six, while the plot ratio of land serviced by other bus lines is four. Plot ratios decrease as distance from BRT lines increases. Seventy percent of residents in this city travel by bus, which helps reduce carbon emissions and is a stark contrast to traditional urban development in most Brazilian cities, which rely on cars.
PROJECT-RELATED PARTIES
CURRENT PROGRESS

Completed

INNOVATION POINT

It was the first city in Brazil to have dedicated bus lanes. No one lives more than 400 meters from a bus stop. Urban development in Curitiba also focused on high-intensity land development along dedicated bus rapid transit lines.

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