By Ben Tavener, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Residents in Ipanema, in Rio’s Zona Sul (South Zone) were out with banners and leaflets on Saturday as they protested against plans for a new metro (subway) station in their neighborhood. They are against plans for the expansion of metro Line 1 – into which Line 4, predicted to start running in 2015, will be integrated.
A petition will be delivered to a number of officials, including Rio State Governor Sérgio Cabral. They say the work will cause major impact to the area, removing trees vital for the area’s air quality, bringing in people “from outside the neighborhood”, and threatening the Praça Nossa Senhora da Paz (Our Lady of Peace Square).
They argue nearby Praça General Osório metro station and a new one planned for Jardim de Alah already meet the area’s needs.
But the Department of Transport says that the distance between these two stations, once work on Jardim de Alah is completed, will be 1.8km, and therefore another station midway between them is required for Ipanema.
Recently Rio’s Rapid Bus System (BRS) has been installed in the area, connecting neighboring Copacabana and Leblon to help with traffic congestion.
Read more (in Portuguese).
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