The reduction of the price of passes in the Algarve to a maximum value of 40 euros is being studied and, «in principle, it will be possible». The proposal was presented by the social democrat Rogério Bacalhau, at the last meeting of AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, most of the mayors agreed and meetings are being held with transport operators to assess its viability.
In a statement, the PSD Algarve explains that the proposal presented provides that, within the scope of the program to reduce social passes tariffs, «no one in the Algarve is subject to the flagrant injustice of paying more than 40 euros, as is the case in Lisbon and Porto».
«No one in the Algarve will pay more than 40 euros for a pass, no matter which route they take. This is the result of this proposal", which had already been it had previously been defended by the Social Democrats.
However, Jorge Botelho, president of AMAL, explained to Sul Informação that "there are still two scenarios" on the table.
«At the meeting we held in March, we had decided to start working on the proposal to reduce the price of passes by 50%. This proposal was also approved by PSD mayors. However, at the last meeting we had, the president of the Chamber of Faro made the proposal to follow the national line, so that the maximum value of the pass, under any circumstances, was 40 euros and this scenario was the most voted. Now, we are working on that possibility, studying and evaluating», explains the mayor of Tavira, elected by the PS.
According to Jorge Botelho, “in principle, it will be possible” this reduction, “but this has to be the target of a deliberation of the mayors that will take place very soon, in principle on the 18th”.
For now, what exists is a “working instruction to support the scenario, so that the mayors can decide in terms of funds and distribution of money how it will be done”. Furthermore, it was also decided that “the executive secretary and the AMAL team work with the transport operators”, so that, when the decision of the mayors is made, they have “the agreement of the operators”.
At this point “there is still no decision made” and “both scenarios are under evaluation. Of course, we look at the 40 euros with greater pleasure, but I don't have the approved proposal», adds Jorge Botelho.
For the PSD, the initial proposal approved in March "would allow the application of the program to subsist social passes with values close to 100 euros", a fact that "translated an undesirable incentive to non-adherence to this regime and a discriminatory application of the same, imposing on many Algarvians a considerable burden in their travels'.
The Social Democrats guarantee that the proposal now presented to reduce public transport passes to a maximum of 40 euros "does not entail any increase in costs, only the redistribution of the 900 euros delivered by the Government", something that is corroborated by Jorge Botelho.
Although the proposal is approved, the PSD Algarve also considers "that more measures are needed, as the network is deficient, public transport is insufficient and disjointed, sometimes even non-existent, without investment to encourage its use, as is the case of the railway with more than 1000 train suppressions in 2018'.
Therefore, the Algarve Social Democrats call on the Government to promote “greater justice and social and territorial equity, in order to overcome the greatest differences and move towards equal access and opportunity for an essential service for the populations”.
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