Liana Vallicelli, City of Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba is a city of 1 million in the south of Brazil. The surrounding region has 24 municipalities and an overall population of 2.5 million. For many years the city had a 7 percent annual growth rate - its population was 400,000 in 1970. Now its growth rate is 2.3%, while the surrounding cities are growing at up to 11% annually.

In the 1960's, the mayor decided on a new master plan to de-congest the downtown and save the old houses there.

Transport Network Determines Urban Form

Growth was to be directed along linear corridors or structural axes. These linear axes have served to control the spread of the city. There is no infrastructure outside them. They have the highest density, with a transit route and a bus terminal, with higher speed streets to either side.

The transit system organizes the urban area. The bus system has a single fare. There is a feeder bus, a dedicated line bus, an express bus and a circle bus. Improvement of the bus system is a top priority. Examples are the new "tube" disembarkation stations at the bus entrance level and the new system of ticketing before entering the bus. There is a 50-second deadhead (period between buses) at peak times, and 2 to 3 minutes at other times at the central station.

There is a lift for the disabled at every tube station. Bus capacities have been increased from 80 to 150 and then to 270. This results in less pollution and greater economies.

There is a 10-year growth capacity in the existing system. The circle line joins the structural axes. This line has been successful, as it attracts 8,000 passengers per week when only 2,000 were expected. The bus system is linked with regional axes outside Curitiba.

Bike lanes are well-used and follow the river.

History and Environment in Commercial and Industrial Areas

The first pedestrian street in Brazil was created in 1972 - overnight, to avoid any opposition by merchants. Children mural-drawing sessions have been a feature of Saturday morning on the mall ever since.

The historic preservation of a commercial district near the downtown has been achieved through the transfer of development rights. There was a problem of abandonment of heritage buildings, in the interest of bringing about their deterioration and eventual demolition. Under the regulations, you can build in the rear if you restore the old building in front. Tax discounts are also given for restoration.

A "Citizenship Street" next to the transport axis provides municipal services at the edge of the city, so that suburbanites don’t have to travel to the downtown. The industrial district is situated on the side of the city away from the prevailing winds. Proof of pollution control is required for a license to operate. Since the industries are clean, they can be near housing.

Housing and Services for the Poor

Housing is provided for up to three minimum salaries. The city is trying for mixed use development, not just housing, in the creation of new neighbourhoods.

The city designated high density development areas with full infrastructure and charged development fees to develop there beyond what was allowed by zoning. These fees were then used for low income housing development. Favela or shanty-town dwellers were moved to a street of new houses with a shop in which they could carry on a trade on the ground floor and the flat in which they lived above.

Low income people benefit from programs in health care, education and food. Old buses are adapted as skill training schools, with what is taught being based on expressed community desires. 47 school libraries have been brought outside schools to allow public access. They each have a lighthouse tower and guardhouse based on the ancient Library of Alexandria.

The city developed books used in four years of primary school. The content was based in the city environment and history.

Environmental Preservation

In the 1970's, federal government loans available for canalizing rivers were used to create public parks along the rivers. There are now 52 square metres of parks per resident. The lakes control water level during rains. Heritage buildings have been moved to parks, celebrating the founding ethnic groups.

The poor participate in a program where they exchange garbage for food (formerly for bus tokens). The "Free University" , located in a reclaimed old quarry, provides free short courses foranyone interested. A vandalism problem at the Botanical Gardens was olved by asking neighbourhood children to take care of the flowers, then paying them for working.

In everything planned in Curitiba, the quality of life is emphasized.



Curitiba Links

Overview

Bus System

Environmental

Editor’s Note: Reports from Curitiba seem too good to be true. A number of the planning community in Halifax have had the opportunity to visit the city in relation to CIDA’s Dalhousie/Brazil Project. I spent a few days there in December 1993 and was totally convinced. It was an attractive, modern, prosperous, comfortable and safe city, that seemed to have been plucked out of the heart of Europe.

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This document was last modified on July 24, 2001.