New public transport line increases accessibility and intermodality in Funchal for tourists

By project DESTI-SMART

Published on 18 May 2020

Portugal

Região Autónoma da Madeira

About this good practice

Horários do Funchal (HF) over the years have been facing constraints related with the advanced age of the public transport (PT) fleet, with the limited adaptation of the service to people with reduced mobility and with the lack of intermodal service provided.
Given the operational limitations, HF approved a fleet renovation strategy, which is focused on service improvement, by implementing initiatives that promote greater energy efficiency and greater accessibility for all passengers. The first step of the strategy consists of MUSA project (ERDF project interrelated with H2020 DESTINATIONS project), which consisted on the acquisition of 30 new buses, 5 of them mini electric buses.
On the other hand, it was identified an opportunity to establish an intermodal service connecting the cruise port of Funchal (it receives yearly around 500.000 tourists) and the city centre, providing visitors with a low-carbon transport alternative.
On July 2019, HF launched the new “Linha Cidade”, which connects the city’s old town to the cruise terminal. The service is oriented for tourists and residents and it is operated by the new mini electric buses, that are equipped to accommodate passengers with disabilities (2 wheelchairs). The service allows residents to move around within the city centre.
The new line is seen as a facilitating service, since passengers have at their disposal a sustainable and cheap transport option, avoiding private car usage to access the city centre.

Expert opinion

This is a good example of meeting a transport need with a low-carbon solutions, with electric buses connecting tourists between cruise ports and the city centre. Targeted interventions like this – focusing on a particular end-use group – can have high impact, reacting to a clear customer need. Other cities with prominent tourism industries looking to facilitate low-carbon mobility may consider this as an interesting practice.

Simon Hunkin

Works at Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform

Resources needed

Each new mini electric bus cost around 249.600€. There was also a marginal cost related to the communication material for the launch of the new line (http://www.horariosdofunchal.pt/centrodoFunchal.pdf). The measure was funded by the ERDF framework.

Evidence of success

During 2 inquiries collected at the port (212 tourists) and at the main PT selling kiosk (102 residents) on December 2019, it was found that 13% of the cruise tourists were aware of the service and that between the tourists that had no knowledge of the service, after explaining, 65% shown interest to use it in the future. Between the residents, the perceived importance of the service was evaluated with 4,01 (scale of 1 to 5). 49% classified the service as Important and 28% as Very Important.

Potential for learning or transfer

It is a very interesting measure to be replicated in other destinations, specially served by a cruise terminal as it allows to connect one of the main gateways of the city with the city center through sustainable transport modes. Besides, the initiative provides an accessible service for residents and tourists that want to move around the city center, having a cheap and low-carbon alternative to private transport modes.
This initiative allows transport operators to step forward towards a sustainable solution, while also promoting accessibility, with a more inclusive service for all, combined with intermodality towards a smart destination. It is a possibility for learning by transport and tourism practitioners and policy-makers in similar destinations.