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Chamber extends free Navigator for over 65s. But not for all residents of the capital: “It would be a mistake”.
The Chamber of Lisboa approved this Wednesday, unanimously, the extension and free of the title Navigator Urban Senior Citizens, valid on the Carris urban network and on the Metropolitano and CP urban networks, until 2029, announced the municipality.
The executive unanimously approved submitting to the Municipal Assembly a proposal from the vice-president, Gonçalo Reis (PSD), for an addendum to the “free public transport” agreement for “young people and those over 65 years old, with tax residence in Lisbon”.
According to the president of the municipality, Carlos Moedas (PSD), cited in a note, “Lisbon is one of the few cities in Europe that has free public transport” and the measure aims to “give a very clear signal” of the commitment to “the decarbonization of the city, the climate transition, air quality and the reduction of car traffic”.
“This is a very important proposal, which has already resulted in a significant increase in the use of public transport in our city, by young and old people”, he added. The municipality decided in 2022, in Carlos Moedas’ first term, in conjunction with the State and the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon, to adopt the free title of Navegante Urbano 3.ª Age and titles for young people, with tax domicile in Lisbon.
“Free transport for people over 65 years of age, in force since July 2022, constituted a decisive instrument for promoting social cohesion, and reinforcing the inclusion of the senior population in the economic, social and cultural life of the city, allowing the mitigation of barriers to access essential services, healthcare, cultural facilities and social support networks”, the proposal reads.
The measure also contributed “to the promotion of sustainable mobility” and the “municipal objectives in terms of climate transition, air quality and reduction in car traffic, by encouraging the transfer of trips from individual transport to the urban and metropolitan public transport network”.
“The experience accumulated between 2022 and 2025 highlights a expressive membership and stable in the segment of beneficiaries over 65 years of age, a clearly positive social impact”, is considered in the text, noting that the generalization of free services for young people, nationally and metropolitanly, led to the cessation of the need to maintain this benefit by the municipality.
In this context, “the reasons of public interest that led to the creation of free service for the over 65s segment remain, to a high degree”, and “it is advisable to proceed with its renewal and stabilization for the period 2026–2029”, the proposal states. The president of the municipality is mandated to coordinate changes to the agreement with the State, without exceeding the total amount, including VAT, of 8.5 million euros (ME) annually until 2029, and to grant the addendum with Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa (TML).
On April 21, 2022, Lisbon City Council unanimously approved the proposal for free public transport in the city, until December 31, 2025, with an annual expenditure of up to 14.9 million euros.
Not free for everyone
The socialist councilors proposed adding to the proposal that the mayor of the municipality develop “the extending free use of public transport to all residents of the city”, with “effect on January 1, 2027”, but the proposal was refused, despite the votes in favor of PS/PCP/Livre and BE.
“The option for universal free access for residents is supported by several European experiences, such as the cities of Tallinn, Dunkerque, Aubagne, Calais or Niort, where the implementation of this policy contributed to a significant increase in demand, improved air quality, reduced car traffic and reinforced social cohesion”, the proposal argues.
Councilor Alexandra Leitão, according to her advisor, considered at the executive’s private meeting that a “more comprehensive measure has exponentially greater potential in terms of modal transfer and reduction of emissions, being more coherent with the carbon neutrality objectives assumed by the city”.
“Costs must be analyzed within the framework of a multi-year strategy, articulated with municipal revenues, tariff compensations and environmental and social gains”, added the socialist.
Mass Lisbon Chamber does not even consider this hypothesis. “It would cost tens of millions of euros and would put investment plans in mobility and Carris at risk”, reacts Gonçalo Reis, vice-president.
“We believe that it would be a mistake extend this initiative to be completely free of charge”, added Gonçalo Reis, in .
“The true social policy in the area of transport and mobility is the reinforcement of investment. This is what we are focused on: we want to provide all the management and financial conditions to our transport companies to make investments, renew fleets, expand their networks and improve services”, indicates the vice-president of the municipality.
