Located in the Santo Cristo neighborhood, Rodoviária Novo Rio is one of Rio de Janeiro's main access points, serving as a link between several cities around Brazil and some destinations abroad. Its importance dates back to its planning stage, the result of a public transportation reform under the Lacerda administration, which believed in a city of the future, a "Novo Rio" ("New Rio"), which would come to be the name of the bus terminal.
Among Carlos Lacerda's ideas was the construction of a new state and interstate bus terminal, as well as plans for creating new roads, new bus companies, and implementing the subway. Thus, the construction of the bus terminal was planned, and it was the target of criticism from those who did not believe in its success. Lacerda proved to be right, but he had lost his political rights; as a result, the bus terminal was designed during the administration of Pereira Passos and inaugurated in 1965 by governor Rafael de Almeida Magalhães.
In 1970, following the merger of the States of Guanabara and Rio, CODERTE (Rio de Janeiro State Highway and Terminal Development Company) was created, and it began managing the Novo Rio terminal. In 1990, the State privatized the administration and operation of bus terminals, and Consórcio Novo Rio began its activities.
Image description: This is a photograph of a bus station, viewed from the front. On the left, there is a large building with a white façade and red details. In front of the building, several people are walking. Also on the left is a bus with white and black stripes. In the center of the image, there is a red car parked. On the right, several colorful buses are parked, including one with yellow and black stripes. There is also a white car parked behind the buses. In the background, there is a bridge and a metal structure. The sky is overcast, giving the image a grayish tone.Rodoviária Novo Rio em 1970. Fonte: Memórias do Subúrbio Carioca
Strategically speaking, its location is close to Downtown and the city's main highways, namely the Rio-Niterói Bridge, Avenida Brasil, and Linha Vermelha. In addition, the terminal offers easy mobility, with integration to the VLT connected to Santos Dumont Airport, taxis, and nearby bus stops.
Becoming Rio de Janeiro's main bus terminal, it holds great importance in Brazil's transportation system, connecting to several other bus terminals across the country and reaching the position of second largest bus terminal in passenger traffic in South America, serving around 80 thousand people daily during peak periods.
In this way, its importance lies in being a land transportation hub that connects Rio de Janeiro to several cities and states, facilitating passenger travel and contributing to the development of tourism and trade in the region. In addition to being a landmark for travelers, it offers services such as shops, restaurants, and information for passengers.
On December 25, 2005, the escalator in the arrivals area was inaugurated, along with a new flamed granite floor. In 2007, the renovation of the floors of the Rodoviária Novo Rio was completed. The first and second floors received a new concrete floor and new signage. On November 5, 2009, the revitalization works of the Rodoviária Novo Rio were completed; the renovation cost R$ 17 million and included improvements to the ticket counters, platforms, signage, and security system.
The consortium that manages the bus terminal sent out a statement about the city government's study. They state that since the beginning of the terminal's operation and management, they have allocated an investment of around R$ 50 million in improvements to the facilities, technology, and services provided to users. In addition to the works stipulated in the concession contract, non-contractual improvements were carried out in the first phase of the terminal's revitalization project, delivered in November 2009.
Image description: The image shows a bus terminal called "Terminal Rodoviário Novo Rio." The building's facade is gray with white lettering. On the left, there is a sign with prohibition symbols and a yellow car parked on the sidewalk. On the right side, two people are opening a gray car. At the terminal entrance, several people are walking or waiting. Above the terminal, there is a sign indicating traffic enforcement by video monitoring. The sky is blue with a few clouds.Fachada da Rodoviária Novo Rio. Fonte: TripAdvisor
Currently, it has an area of 70,000 square meters. The bus terminal has more than 50 boarding platforms, 63 commercial establishments, two food courts, a lost-and-found, a police battalion, luggage storage, a cooling system in the boarding areas, service counters, ATMs, an internet café, and Wi-Fi.
In addition, it has professional bilingual staff and accessibility features, including elevators, escalators, adapted restrooms, wheelchairs, tactile maps, and support services for the elderly and people with disabilities.
