“It’s a public transport system that’s arriving for the first time to Vila Nova de Gaia, based on the use of electric and/or hydrogen-powered buses with a dedicated lane to avoid congestion, with its own stations, new vehicles and smart traffic systems on an integrated and flexible route.

According to the Vila Nova de Gaia council, the structural works for the first phase of the metrobus which connect D. João II metro station with the downtown have already finished and the corridor’s official opening on the Avenida Vasco da Gama is slated for Friday.

Starting from September, the bus lane shall be used by Feirense/Bus On Tour, the winning operator of the Southwest concession (Vila Nova de Gaia and Espinho) in the public contest for public passenger road transport in the Porto Metro Area.

“As an experiment, journeys will be free from September 1st to December 31st. After that, the service will be included in the Andante ticket shop,” the council stated.

After the corridor’s official opening, the signing of protocol for the second phase will take place, which will connect Arcos do Sardão to the Avintes roundabout.

In August 2019, Vila Nova de Gaia council announced it would be launching an international contest for the construction of the metrobus corridor’s first phase.

The announced investment was circa 3.8 million euros and, according to what was shared at the time, the project was part of a total remodelling of the Avenida Vasco da Gama, “a defining municipal road axis that connects many parishes and which stands as one of the municipality’s most important roadways.”