By Jay Forte, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Organizers of the mega-music festival Rock in Rio have announced a new transportation program in partnership with MetrôRio for the 2017 edition, set to take place at the Cidade do Rock (Rock City) in Barra da Tijuca on September 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
MetrôRio will operate 24 hours a day during Rock in Rio 2017 (normally it closes at midnight) from the Jardim Oceânico station in Barra da Tijuca – which gives access to the BRT lines to the Cidade do Rock – and will include all stations on all lines (1, 2 and 4).
Ricardo Acto, director of Operations for Rock in Rio explained, “The only way to get to Rock City will be by public transport. The special operation of MetrôRio and BRT – which has been successfully tested during the Olympic Games – will give even more convenience to our public and, the great news is it will run for 24 hours [per day].”
Organizers also announced that the Cidade do Rock will be twice as big as in the past. Among the improvements expected with the new space, the organization highlights greater ease in the circulation of the public, in security operations, cleaning and accessibility for people with reduced mobility, plus bathrooms, service positions in bars and shaded areas.
Along with the partnership with MetrôRio, from March 28th to April 6th, public transportation users will get a taste of what the Rock in Rio event will be. The festival will promote, at stations; Carioca, Siqueira Campos, General Osório, Antero de Quental, Jardim Oceânico, Maria da Graça, and the BRT terminal Alvorada, presentations with performances related to the history of the festival.
The shows will last fifty minutes and will take place daily from 5PM to 9PM, with four presentations per day in each station, curated by Rock in Rio. The initiative of the festival takes place in parallel with the MetrôRio project Palco Carioca, which aims to encourage talents, cultural exchange and give opportunity for musicians to present their work.