Brazil advances São Paulo Metro expansion and launches free‑flow toll on Raposo Tavares

The São Paulo metropolitan area is planning five new Metro lines—19 Celeste, 20 Rosa, 21 Vinho, 22 Marrom and 23 Limão. Line 19 Celeste, which will link Guarulhos to central São Paulo over 17.6 km with 15 stations, has completed executive‑project bids and is awaiting expropriation and site preparation, with heavy construction expected to start around 2027. The other four lines remain at earlier stages: line 20 Rosa is still in basic‑project definition, line 21 Vinho is in detailed‑study phase, line 22 Marrom has issued survey tenders and is viewed as high‑demand, and line 23 Limão is in preliminary planning.

Separately, the Rodovia Raposo Tavares highway is introducing a free‑flow toll system that eliminates traditional toll plazas. Using automatic license‑plate recognition and real‑time payment processing, the system aims to cut travel time, reduce congestion and vehicle emissions, and improve safety by removing stop‑and‑go points. While the technology promises smoother traffic and environmental gains, challenges include public acceptance, the need for substantial infrastructure investment, and ensuring reliable operation of the monitoring and billing platforms.