Municipalities fight for HST station in SP
Valor Econômico
Representatives of the main municipalities of the region of Vale do Paraíba massively attended the first hearing of the Terrestrial Transportation National Agency (ANTT) yesterday, in São José dos Campos, to debate the impact of the project of the high-speed train (HST) in the region. The project, elaborated by the federal government, foresees the construction of two stations in the region, but it defined only one mandatory stop, in Aparecida, leaving at the discretion of the winning consortium the choice of another terminal. At least Taubaté, Jacareí and the São José dos Campos itself want to host a train terminal. For that purpose, they elaborated studies and already promise tax benefits.
The first stage of the project considered São José dos Campos a reference for one of the mandatory stops, but the bidding rules released by the ANTT decided not to define the location of the stations, so as to allow the project to be accommodated according to the course that will be defined with the winning consortium. According to the President of the Commercial and Industrial Association of São José dos Campos, Felipe Cury, the construction of a station in the city ceased being a widely accepted point to become a matter of conflict and politics among the municipalities of Vale do Paraíba. São José dos Campos, according to Mayor Eduardo Cury (PSDB, Brazilian Social Democracy Party), currently has the third biggest passenger demand for the HST, ahead of cities like Rio de Janeiro.
For the Mayor of Jacareí, Hamilton Ribeiro Mota (PT, Labor Party), there is no political dispute for the station in the region. Mota, however, was keen to point out that Jacareí has the conditions to have an HST station. The Planning Director of the municipal government of Taubaté, Antônio Carlos Pedrosa, said the municipality shall submit an alternative project for the HST. The study of the municipal administration, according to Pedrosa, will show the advantages of building the station in Taubaté.
The State Representative Carlos de Almeida (PT/SP) says the station will be in São José dos Campos. "The referential study of the ANTT indicated the city as the best alternative on the São Paulo side of the region of the Vale, based on technical studies of demand, cost of the works, geological difficulty and environmental impact". According to the Representative, 90% of the R$ 34.4 billion (US$ 18.8 billion) to be invested in the project will be funded by the fares. "There is no reason not to choose the most populous city with the biggest per capita income of the Vale do Paraíba. The entire region will benefit".
The bidding rules defined the obligation of building at least nine stations. Campinas (two), São Paulo, Guarulhos, Aparecida and Rio de Janeiro (two) are confirmed. The two other should be installed in the Vale do Paraíba of São Paulo and in the Vale do Paraíba of Rio de Janeiro, at the discretion of the winning consortium. Today there is new hearing in Aparecida and the last one will be held tomorrow, in Barra Mansa (RJ).