04/30/2024 – The public transport operator Expresso Vera Cruz committed today (30), through the signing of a conduct adjustment agreement (TAC) before the Public Ministry of Pernambuco (MPPE), to implement improvements in the provision public passenger transport service.
Among the measures are suspending, initially for 90 days, the operation of 12 bus lines, which will be taken over by other operators already operating in the Metropolitan Region; reinforce the vehicle fleet to ensure the number of trips on the lines that the company will continue to operate; comply with the requirements of the Greater Recife Metropolitan Transport Consortium (CTM); and pay fines due for non-compliance with the regulatory body’s rules. Details of the obligations assumed by Vera Cruz are at the end of this article.
“Today’s hearing was the result of very hard work, which required a series of meetings, meetings, phone calls and, finally, we are managing to reach a good conclusion. Through this commitment, Vera Cruz is committed to adopting a series of measures that will requalify its entire operation, acquisition of new buses, guarantee of maintenance of existing buses, updating of inspections. We hope that from compliance with what was stipulated, including the payment of approximately 10 million reais in cash. fines, the company adopts a new stance in relation to its operation and can deliver a higher quality service to users”, summarized the Transport Prosecutor, Leonardo Caribé.
Monitoring of the measures that must be implemented by Vera Cruz will be carried out by the CTM, the Bus Workers Union of Recife and the Metropolitan Region, the Association of Independent Benefits of Bus Workers of Pernambuco (Abirpe), the Superior Council for Metropolitan Transport and the State Secretariat for Mobility and Infrastructure . If they identify possible irregularities, these entities must immediately contact the CTM and MPPE.
“In the next few days we will go to the bus terminals and the main Ibura corridors to check the operating conditions not only of the Vera Cruz company but also of the other operators that will take over these suspended lines. The important thing now is to see if the orders service will be fulfilled because, in fact, today, the user is suffering due to this lack of buses”, highlighted Clayton Leal, user representative at the Superior Council of Metropolitan Transport.
Among the penalties provided for the operator in case of non-compliance with operational clauses are the application of fines and other sanctions provided for in the regulations of the public passenger transport system, in addition to the fines provided for in the TAC upon execution by the MPPE.
In the event of non-payment of fines according to the agreed schedule, Vera Cruz will be subject to a fine and also to the sale of vehicles that were given as collateral. This way, the Greater Recife Consórcio de Transportes will be able to take possession of the buses and sell them to guarantee the collection of debts.
CLAUSES ASSUMED IN THE TAC BY THE COMPANY VERA CRUZ
FROM MAY 1ST
– Suspend, for a period of 90 days, the operation on 12 lines (110 – Ibura/TI Prazeres; 115 – Jordão Baixo/Boa Viagem; 118 – Prazeres/Boa Viagem; 120 – Alto Dois Carneiros/Shopping Recife; 135 – UR -10/TI Tancredo Neves; 136 – UR-05/TI Tancredo Neves; 142 – Alto Dois Carneiros/TI Tancredo Neves; /TI Cabo; 198 – Ipojuca/TI Cabo;
– Maintain a total of 142 vehicles approved by the CTM in the operation of the designated lines, increasing this number to 149 from June 1st;
– You may express your intention to return to operating the mentioned lines even before the 90-day deadline, as long as you increase the fleet to 189 registered and inspected buses;
– Do not delay payment of new fines applied from January 1, 2024;
– Not incur, in the next twelve months, fines for reduced fleet or non-compliance with CTM service orders;
– Reduce by at least 90%, compared to the monthly average for 2023, the number of fines for missed hours, broken/missing lifting platform and detained vehicle;
– Reach the minimum number of vehicles approved per month in inspections according to the CTM calendar;
– Grant the sale of 26 vehicles from its fleet to the CTM as a guarantee of payment of the fines due, keeping the vehicles in good condition and assuming all operating, insurance and maintenance expenses;
– Make efforts not to dismiss your employees due to the suspension of the aforementioned lines;
IN 5 DAYS
– Pay the deposit defined in the schedule of 60 monthly installments, which includes a total amount of R$ 10.5 million in fines applied until 2023;
IN 15 DAYS
– Present an action plan to combat revenue evasion in its lines; and within 30 days, implement the measures;
IN 30 DAYS
– Improve user support systems via telephone, WhatsApp and email;
IN 90 DAYS
– Acquire 25 new buses;
JANUARY 2025
– Cease to be the operator of the RMR Passenger Transport System with the highest proportional number of complaints in relation to the number of users transported or, at least, be close to the average of other operators;
– Grant the sale of a further 25 vehicles from its fleet to the CTM as a guarantee of payment of the fines due, keeping the vehicles in good condition and assuming all operating, insurance and maintenance expenses.
