On 31 October 2026, the Diário do Transporte visited São José dos Campos’ new electric bus corridor, the Linha Verde, to assess its operational features and passenger experience. The city’s municipal government, in partnership with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), approved a R$ 879.4 million loan to finance 400 electric buses from Eletra, part of a broader fleet renewal program. The Linha Verde, which began operation in 2022, now runs between the Southern Terminal and the Rodoviária Nova, covering 14.5 km with 13 stations. The corridor incorporates a dedicated bus lane, priority at traffic signals, low‑floor articulated BYD/Marcopolo vehicles, and a “metronization” system that adjusts signal phases to favor buses. Passengers praised the absence of turnstiles, contactless payment via bank cards and digital wallets, onboard agents, and the use of cameras instead of rear‑view mirrors. However, users requested shorter headways on weekends and broader coverage. The city also announced a 8.3 km eastern extension of the corridor, with a R$ 242 million investment, and a separate 400‑bus lease program with Urbam and Green Energy, using Eletra‑powered vehicles. The report highlights how the combination of infrastructure, vehicle technology and human assistance can improve urban mobility, while noting that service frequency and network reach remain critical for wider adoption.
Lead
On 31 October 2026, the Diário do Transporte conducted a field visit to São José dos Campos’ Linha Verde, an electric bus corridor that links the city’s southern terminal with the Rodoviária Nova. The trip was undertaken the day after the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) announced approval of a R$ 879.4 million loan to finance 400 electric buses from Eletra for the municipal fleet renewal. The visit aimed to evaluate the corridor’s operational features, passenger experience and the impact of recent infrastructure upgrades.
Verified facts
The BNDES approval of R$ 879.4 million for 400 Eletra electric buses is a first‑party announcement from the bank. The Linha Verde began operation on 31 July 2022 between the Southern Terminal and the Rodoviária Nova, covering 14.5 km with 13 stations. The corridor uses low‑floor articulated BYD/Marcopolo vehicles, a dedicated bus lane, priority at traffic signals, and a “metronization” system that changes signal phases to favor buses. The system also incorporates 22 smart traffic‑light cameras, connected to the municipal safety centre, to detect approaching buses and adjust signal timing.
The Diário do Transporte report notes that the buses have no turnstiles; passengers validate their fare using on‑board validators that accept municipal transport cards, bank credit or debit cards, and digital wallets. The municipality states that the Bilhete Único integration is valid for two hours. The buses also feature cameras in place of conventional rear‑view mirrors, and an onboard agent assists passengers with boarding and disembarking.
The city announced an 8.3 km eastern extension of the corridor (Linha Verde Eixo Leste—Trecho II) on 29 May 2026, with a total investment of R$ 242 million, of which R$ 127 million comes from the state of São Paulo. The extension will use the former power‑line right‑of‑way between Avenida Senador Teotônio Vilela and Avenida Presidente Tancredo Neves.
Organizations and responsibilities
• São José dos Campos Municipal Government – responsible for corridor design, signal priority, station construction, and procurement of the 400 Eletra buses.
• BNDES – approved the R$ 879.4 million loan for the Eletra bus purchase.
• Eletra – manufacturer of the 400 electric buses to be leased.
• Green Energy – provides the Eletra buses to Urbam under a lease contract.
• Urbam – municipal company that will lease the 400 buses and manage maintenance.
• BYD and Marcopolo – manufacturers of the low‑floor articulated buses currently operating on the Linha Verde.
• Viação Saens Peña, Joseense Transportes de Passageiros Ltd., and Expresso Maringá do Vale S.A. – operators contracted to run the corridor.
Operational and commercial context
The corridor’s design combines vehicle technology, dedicated infrastructure and human assistance to improve reliability and passenger comfort. The absence of turnstiles and the use of contactless payment reduce boarding time, while onboard agents provide assistance to vulnerable passengers. Cameras replace rear‑view mirrors, potentially reducing blind spots in articulated buses. Signal priority and the metronization system aim to reduce delays at intersections, improving schedule adherence.
Passenger feedback collected during the visit highlighted two main areas for improvement: shorter headways on weekends and expanded coverage to additional neighbourhoods. These comments suggest that while the quality of service inside the vehicle is high, overall system attractiveness depends on frequency and network reach.
The city’s fleet renewal program, financed by BNDES and other national funds, will deliver 400 Eletra electric buses by 2027. The lease model separates vehicle supply from line operation, allowing the municipality to control maintenance and deployment while contracting operators for service delivery.
Sources
Diário do Transporte, “VÍDEO ESPECIAL no Local: Sem catraca, com agente de bordo e prioridade nos cruzamentos (metronização), Linha Verde mostra o que o ônibus pode oferecer em São José dos Campos (SP)”, 31 October 2026, https://diariodotransporte.com.br/2026/10/31/video-especial-no-local-sem-catraca-com-agente-de-bordo-e-prioridade-nos-cruzamentos-metronizacao-linha-verde-mostra-o-que-o-onibus-pode-oferecer-em-sao-jose-dos-campos-sp/
Disclosure
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