The new strategic plan for Portugal’s transport infrastructure has a target of increasing traffic volumes on the road and rail networks by 2020.
The new plan, which runs until 2020, contains an objective to increase by 15% the traffic on Portuguese motorways, reversing the downward trend seen since the beginning of the economic crisis.
The goal for growing the number of passengers on public transport is 15% by the end of the decade, another reversal of a downward trend witnessed since 2011 as the economic crisis and unemployment has reduced those who use transport, whether public or private.
The plan foresees investments of €898 million in ten road projects, none of which are in the Algarve.
For public transport €755 million is earmarked, including a rail link to Faro airport from the existing Algarve line.
The country’s ports sector leads the number of projects with 19 valued at €1,534 million. The railway sector has 18 projects with a combined spend of €2,639 million. A freight line between Sines and Spain and a line connecting the northern ports to the Spanish border represent more than half of the budgeted amount for railways.
The government plan outlines a rise of 50% in the number of cruise passengers using Portugal’s ports, and a 25% increase in traffic through Portugal’s airports.
The investment in the airports sector of €241 million actually is an existing part of the strategic plan of ANA - Airports of Portugal – which is now in private hands and will be privately funded. ANA’s largest project is the development of capacity at Lisbon airport with a planned investment of €137 million.
The approved national infrastructure plan was proposed by a working group which has concentrated on the road and airport sectors.
The plan has an overall value of €6,067 million but only €133 million is heading south to the Algarve, something Faro’s mayor Rogerio Bacalhau was quick to spot, complaining today that the Algarve’s share of the national bonanza was low.
The head of the Algarve Tourist Board, Desiderio Silva, also pointed out the low percentage the Algarve was receiving despite some problems that needed urgent solutions.
One of the Algarve’s main infrastructure problems has not received funding. The overburdened EN125 road, which adsorbs much of the traffic from the near-empty Via do Infante motorway, is in need of repair and upgrade, a process that started and then was suspended indefinitely.
