Mobility and Transport

Transport authority

In the field of public passenger transport, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area has powers and competencies established in the Legal Framework of the Public Passenger Transport Service, approved by Law no. 52/2015, of June 9.

As the transport authority, AML is responsible for defining the strategic objectives of the mobility system, planning, organizing, operating, allocating, supervising, investing in, financing, publicizing and developing the public passenger transport service by road, river, rail and other guided systems.

The revolution in mobility in the Lisbon metropolitan region began in April 2019 with the creation of the Navegante pass (metropolitan and municipal), which was the biggest change in transport fares in recent years and made it possible to use all regular public passenger transport services in all 18 municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan area (metropolitan navegante), or just in one of the 18 municipalities that make up the Lisbon metropolitan area(municipal navegante).

After the creation of the sailing pass in 2019, Carris Metropolitana has continued the revolution in mobility, which aims to promote quality of life and change the modal split in favor of public transport and sustainable mobility.

The bus service network, designed by AML in conjunction with the 18 municipalities, will serve approximately 2.7 million potential users from January 1, 2023, with the service now belonging to the single, integrating brand Carris Metropolitana.

The management of this service is the responsibility of Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa (TML), a local company of a metropolitan nature, 100% owned by the Área Metropolitana de Lisboa, which, since February 2021, has become the entity responsible for managing the public road transport service in the metropolitan area.

The investment of around 1.2 billion euros has increased the service, in qualitative and quantitative terms, translated into an offer with more routes, more routes and circulations, more modern, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable buses.

The improvements, to be implemented gradually, take into account technological integration and the planning and adjustment of the service to existing needs, the promotion of punctuality, regularity and reliability of the system and greater simplification of the networks and services to be provided.

Environmental sustainability is promoted through the renewal and qualification of the fleet, with a reduction in the average age of buses from 15 years to less than one year, and the inclusion of a quota of non-polluting and energy-efficient vehicles.

It is also planned to improve the focus and attention to the passenger, with the expansion of the sales network and support services and centralized information management.

Own competences

According to article 4 of the RJSPTP - the Transport Authorities are responsible for:
:: defining the strategic objectives of the mobility system;
:: planning, organizing, operating, allocating, supervising, investing in, financing, publicizing and developing the public passenger transport service, by road, river, rail and other guided systems.

In order to carry out their duties, the Transport Authorities have the following powers:
a) Organizing, planning, developing and coordinating the networks and lines of the public passenger transport service, as well as the equipment and infrastructure dedicated to it;
b) Operating the public passenger transport service through their own means or by assigning it to public service operators, through the conclusion of public service contracts or mere authorization;
c) Determining public service obligations;
d) Investing in the networks, equipment and infrastructure dedicated to the public passenger transport service, without prejudice to the investment to be made by public service operators;
e) Financing the public passenger transport service, as well as the networks, equipment and infrastructure dedicated to it, and financing public service obligations and compensation for the provision of subsidized social tariffs determined by the transport authority;
f) Determining and approving the tariff systems to be in force within the scope of the public passenger transport service;
g) Receiving compensation for the right to operate the public passenger transport service;
h) Supervising and monitoring the operation of the public passenger transport service;
i) Carrying out mobility surveys within the respective geographical area;
j) Promoting the adoption of transport planning instruments in the respective geographical area;
k) Publicizing the public passenger transport service.

The Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (article 8 of the RJSPTP) is the competent transport authority for inter-municipal public passenger transport services that take place wholly or mainly in its geographical area, as well as for others that may be the subject of inter-administrative contracts.

Delegated powers

Article 10 of the RJSPTP provides for the possibility of delegating the powers of the transport authorities to other transport authorities or other public bodies, namely by signing inter-administrative contracts.

Inter-administrative contracts in force
Delegation or sharing of powers between transport authorities:
- Contracts for the delegation of all powers in the field of public municipal passenger transport services
Alcochete | Almada | Amadora | Loures | Mafra | Moita | Montijo | Odivelas | Oeiras | Palmela | Seixal | Sesimbra | Setúbal | Sintra | Vila Franca de Xira

Contracts relating to the fare system - transport tickets covered by PART
Interadministrative Contract for the Delegation and Sharing of Powers between the Portuguese State and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area
Barreiro | Cascais | Lisboa

Inter-administrative Contract for the Delegation and Sharing of Competences between AML and CIMOeste
Inter-administrative Contract for the Delegation and Sharing of Competences between AML and CIM Lezíria do Tejo

- Contracts relating to the organization of public interregional passenger transport services
Interadministrative Contract for the Sharing of Competences between AML and the CIM Alentejo Litoral
Interadministrative Contract for the Shared Management of Interregional Services between AML andthe CIM Lezíria do Tejo
Interadministrative Contract for the Shared Management of Interregional Services between AML and the CIM Alto Alentejo Centralbetween AML and CIM Alto Alentejo
Inter-administrative Contract for Shared Management Inter-regional Service between AML and CIM Alentejo Central
Inter-administrative Contract for Shared Management Inter-regional Service between AML and CIM Oeste
Inter-administrative Contract for Shared Management Inter-regional Service between AML and CIM Médio Tejo

Regulations

Regulation no. 1003/2016, of November 2
During the transitional period, there is the possibility of making adjustments to public road passenger transport services with regard to timetables, routes, stops, fares, type of charging and others, which can be requested by transport operators from AML.
The procedures for adjustment requests are defined in the Regulation on Procedures for Adjustments to the Operating Conditions of the Public Passenger Transport Service
Procedures for Adjustments to the Operating Conditions of the Public Passenger Transport Service - Regulation no. 1003/2016

Application for Adjustment of the Conditions of Provisional Operation of a Public Passenger Transport Service

Regulation no. 390/2018, of May 7
The Legal Framework for Public Passenger Transport Services approved by Law no. 52/2015, of June 9, provides for the possibility of two or more public service operators jointly operating public passenger transport services.
The rules and procedures for requests for authorization for joint operation are set out in the Regulation on Procedures for Authorization for Joint Operation of Public Road Passenger Transport Services.
Procedures for requests for authorization for joint operation of Public Road Passenger Transport Services - Regulation no. 390/2018

Road passenger transport:
- up to 6 joint holdings
- up to 38 joint holdings

Regulation no. 278-A/2019, of March 19

Metropolitan Regulation of the General Rules for the Implementation of the Tariff System in AML - 6th amendment - Report on the prior hearing of interested parties

Technical instruction defining the conditions of access to the Navegante Metropolitano Família and Navegante Municipal Família passes

Validity and geographical scope

Flexible transportation

Flexible Passenger Transport (FPT) is, under the terms of the law in force, the "public passenger transport service operated in a manner adapted to the needs of users, allowing flexibility in at least one of the following dimensions of service provision: itineraries; timetables; stops and type of vehicle", and "applies to situations of low demand in the use of regular public transport or when regular public transport or cab transport does not provide an adequate response to the needs of citizens, namely in regions of low population density, (...), at night or at weekends", and in certain seasonal periods.
The specific rules applicable to the TPF are set out in Decree-Law no. 60/2016, of September 8, issued under the provisions of article 35(2) of the Legal Framework for Public Passenger Services (RJSPTP), approved by Law no. 52/2015, of June 9.
The TPF can be operated:

• directly by the transport authorities (State, Metropolitan Areas, CIM and/or municipalities), using their own resources,
• by companies licensed to transport passengers by road;
• by companies licensed to transport cabs;
• Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), on a subsidiary basis and provided that the provision of transport services is provided for in their respective statutes.
  It is up to the competent transport authority to assign and/or authorize the operation of FPT services.
  Transport operators wishing to provide FPT services in addition to the passenger transport services for which they are licensed must notify IMT, I.P. in advance.
  The Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (AML) is the competent transport authority for delegated inter-municipal and municipal public passenger road transport services. It is also the competent transport authority for services operated under a flexible regime that take place wholly or mainly in its geographical area.
  Public municipal road passenger transport services operated under a flexible regime delegated through inter-administrative contracts, as well as public inter-regional road passenger transport services operated under a flexible regime that are shared with other competent transport authorities at inter-municipal level, also require express authorization from the AML.
  "Occasional transport" services under the revoked RTA must be covered by Decree Law no. 60/2016.
  Requirements for applications for authorization to operate FPT services on the initiative of the operator
  a) Application addressed to the AML duly signed and stamped, which must include:
  i. Identification of the company - full company name, address, NIPC, community license number
  ii. Reasons for the request
  iii. Method of operating the FPT service:
  1. Description of the services: name, origin and destination (if applicable), places of departure, route and respective itinerary (area of operation and routes through which it operates, if applicable) and stops, timetable and/or frequencies (if applicable), period of operation;
  2. Rules and conditions for passenger access to the FPT service (at the passenger's request or by reservation using information and communication technologies, in the case of on-demand transportation);
  iv. Tariff applied (tickets and fares) in accordance with the existing general tariff rules, as well as the respective conditions of application;
  v. Collection system;
  vi. Identification of the vehicles to be used: make, model and registration; copy of the periodic technical inspection certificate, in the case of light vehicles; and copy of the license for public passenger transport, in the case of heavy passenger vehicles;
  vii. Registering the service in the SICO module and sending the respective elements ("database" and "processes" folder) to the AML
  b) Proof of payment of the fee (where applicable).
  c) Proof of prior communication to the IMT.
  d) At the end of the process, registration in SIGGESC, in the "New Flexible Service" tab available to operators who have made the respective prior notification;
  If the applicant is an IPSS, they must also attach the following documents:
  a) Certificate from the Commercial Registry Office proving that the IPSS is registered;
  b) Copy of civil liability and personal accident insurance appropriate to the type of transport carried out and the passengers transported;
  c) Document proving that the tax situation has been regularized;
  d) Document proving that the social security system has been regularized.

AML, whenever justified, may request the submission of other elements/documents it deems necessary for the analysis of the permit application.

The following vehicles may be used in the TPF:
a) Heavy passenger vehicles licensed for public passenger transport;
b) Light vehicles provided that they are subject to periodic inspection at the intervals established for light vehicles licensed for public passenger transport, in which case their use must be notified to IMT, I.P., except in the case of vehicles used for individual transport by cab;
c) Heavy or light vehicles used for school transport when they are not used on routes or services operated by public passenger transport operators and there is excess capacity beyond the transport of pupils.

Procedures:
1) Operators notify IMT in advance
2) Operators send the application with the elements required for assessment, as well as proof of payment of the fee (where applicable), to AML, via email, to amlcorreio@aml.pt .
3) After checking that all the elements submitted are in order, AML consults the municipality(ies) and/or intermunicipal communities so that they can give their opinion on the application within 15 (fifteen) working days.
At the end of the process and in the event of authorization, operators must register the application in SIGGESC, under the "New Flexible Service" tab.

Advertising:
After authorization or assignment by the AML and in accordance with article 16 of Decree-Law 60/2016, the operator must advertise the following information in a clear, comprehensible and easily accessible manner, on paper and on their website, before the start of the service:
a. The identity and contact details of the operator
b. The area of operation and routes where it operates and, where applicable, the route, stops, timetables and which routes are partially or totally fixed or flexible
c. The service tariff, as well as all the conditions of application and any social tariffs
d. The rules governing passenger access to the service
e. Operating model for the service
f. How to schedule and cancel the reservation, when applicable, and any corresponding amount to be paid by the passenger
g. The availability of the complaints book by the operator, under the terms of Decree-Law no. 156/2015 of September 15, as amended by Decree-Laws no. 371/2007 of November 6, 118/2009 of May 19, 317/2009 of October 30 and 242/2012 of November 7.

Provisional authorizations

Following the publication of Law no. 52/2015, which approved the Legal Framework for Public Passenger Services, AML issued 516 provisional authorizations within the time limit set by the law to maintain the system for operating public regulated road passenger transport services in the Lisbon metropolitan area, succeeding the previous permits, which were authorizations for operators to provide public road passenger transport services.
With the issue of these provisional authorizations, AML recorded, updated and regularized the road transport services actually carried out and defined new obligations for the provision of the road transport service, under the aforementioned Legal Regime.
With the start of the transport services contracted by TML - which operate under the "Carris Metropolitana" brand, the previously existing lines carried out by the private operators holding these provisional authorizations were progressively replaced.
Thus, with the start of the services defined under contract no. 27/2021, the provisional authorizations issued to the operators TST and RA expired on 31 May 2022. On June 30, under contract no. 26/2021, the provisional authorizations of the TST operator and Sulfertagus services expired.
Considering the start of contracts no. 24/2021 and 25/2021, on January 1, 2023, the provisional authorizations of the BT, RL, Scotturb, Vimeca, JJSA, ID, HLM operators expired on December 31, 2022, with only provisional authorizations no. 3 and no. 4 remaining.Taking into account that the respective services will have to be the subject of a specific call for tenders by the municipality of Sintra, and that they are both a regular public transport service, with a social character and fare, and a tourist service.

In November 2023, the Board of Directors of TML approved the maintenance of the public service operation regime for regular road passenger transport in the Lisbon metropolitan area, of these two authorizations granted to Scotturb, while the tender promoted by the municipality of Sintra for services corresponding to those currently practiced under these provisional authorizations takes place.

Scotturb n.3
Scotturb n.4

Passenger rights

European legislation establishes common rules aimed at guaranteeing the provision of minimum assistance to passengers of all modes of transport in the event of long delays or cancellations, as well as protecting the most vulnerable passengers in particular. These rules also establish compensation mechanisms. Various derogations are possible for rail and road transport.

Rail Passenger Rights

Regulation (EC) No 1371/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of October 23, 2007 on rail passengers' rights and obligations. For more information contact the competent body, the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes, I.P. (IMT, IP).

Passenger Rights in Bus Transport

Regulation (EU) No. 181/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of February 16, 2011 on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport. Decree-Law no. 9/2015, of January 15, which establishes the conditions that must be observed in the contract for the carriage of passengers and luggage by road. For more information contact the competent body (IMT, I.P.).

Passenger Rights in Maritime Transport

Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 24, 2010 on the rights of passengers when traveling by sea and inland waterway. Decree-Law no. 7/2014, of January 15, which aims to ensure the implementation and fulfillment of the obligations arising for the Portuguese State from Regulation (EU) no. 1177/2010.
For more information contact the national body implementing the regulation, IMT, I.P.
Consult the IMT portal here.

Complaints, grievances or reports (road passenger transport)

The Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) is the regulatory and supervisory authority for the mobility and land, river and rail transport sector and its infrastructures, with the power to receive and assess complaints from users and conflicts involving operators, and to adopt the necessary measures, as well as to initiate the appropriate procedure if the facts resulting from the complaint indicate the practice of an administrative offense provided for in a specific applicable rule (Statutes of the Mobility and Transport Authority, approved by Decree-Law no. 78/2014, of 14 May).º 78/2014, of May 14).
Complaints or denunciations regarding public road passenger transport services should be sent to the AMT.

Transport network, offer, discounts, fares, tickets and passes

All the information on the offer, transport network, tickets, fares and passes on the navigator's website.

NAVEGANTE titles:

- Metropolitan (allows the use of all regular public passenger transport services in all 18 municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan area)

- Municipal (allows the use of any regular public passenger transport service within the geographical limits of 1 of the 18 municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan area)

Atualizações tarifárias

Regular tariff update for 2025

In accordance with the guidelines of the Lisbon Metropolitan Council, the Board of Directors of TML - Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa E.M.T., S.A. (TML) has approved, in accordance with the law, the final fares for the tickets available in the Lisbon metropolitan area, as part of the regular fare update for the year 2025.

Sublinha-se que os passes navegante em vigor na área metropolitana de Lisboa desde 2019, assim como o tarifário de títulos ocasionais dos serviços da Carris Metropolitana, não terão qualquer aumento em 2025. Consulte os preços dos passes navegante aqui.

Consulte aqui as tabelas 2025 referentes à Carris Metropolitana, Fertagus e Scotturb.

Regular tariff update for 2024

The Board of Directors of TML - Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa E.M.T., S.A. (TML) has approved, in accordance with the law, the final fares for the tickets available in the Lisbon metropolitan area, as part of the regular fare update for the year 2024.

It should be noted that the Navegante passes in force in the Lisbon metropolitan area since 2019, as well as the fares for occasional tickets for Carris Metropolitana services, will not be increased in 2024.

Consulte aqui as tabelas 2024 referentes à Carris Metropolitana, Fertagus e Scotturb.

Tariff Update Rate approved for 2025

Bearing in mind:

• The Tariff Update Rate set by the Mobility and Transport Authority to take effect on January 1, 2025, of 2.02%; and

• The objective of promoting the use of public transport, recommended for the Lisbon metropolitan area.

The Lisbon Metropolitan Area has decided:

Consider the value of the Fare Update Rate in force for the year 2025 for the own and combined fare of 2.02%, as determined by the Mobility and Transport Authority.

Taking into account the delegation and sub-delegation of powers in force, TML - Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa, will assess compliance with this decision by checking the retail prices presented by the transport operators.

The application of the fare update rate to Navegante intermodal tickets and Carris Metropolitana's own tickets will be announced at a later date.

Tariff Rate approved for 2024

Bearing in mind:

- The initiatives described in the consolidated version of October 16, 2023 of the State Budget Report 2024, "for the care they show in monitoring the various stages of citizens' lives, in a context that is demanding and uncertain", which "favor public transport (such as freezing the prices of passes and investing in expanding the fleet)", namely maintaining the prices of public transport passes;

- The Fare Update Rate set by the Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) to take effect on January 1, 2024, of 6.43%;

- The start of operation of Carris Metropolitana (Area 4 in June 2022, Area 3 in July, Areas 1 and 2 in January 2023), with the definition and implementation of a new fare system for occasional tickets;

-The objective of promoting the use of public transport in the Lisbon metropolitan area.

The Lisbon Metropolitan Area has decided to consider the possibility of operators being able to apply up to the value of the Tariff Update Rate in force for the year 2024, as published by the Mobility and Transport Authority, for occasional transport tickets of 6.43%, in accordance with Ordinance no. 298/2018 and AMT Regulation no. 430/2019.

In accordance with the initiative described in the consolidated version of October 16, 2023 of the State Budget Report 2024, mentioned above, there will also be no increase in the retail prices of Navegante fare passes.

Taking into account the delegation and sub-delegation of powers, TML - Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa, will assess compliance with this decision by checking the retail prices presented by the transport operators.

Relatórios de desempenho

Os relatórios de desempenho sumário relativos ao serviço público de transporte de passageiros na área metropolitana de Lisboa e a listagem das subvenções atribuídas podem ser consultadas no sitio da TML – Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa aqui.

Studies and planning

Lisbon Metropolitan Area Sustainable Urban Mobility Action Plan (PAMUS)
The February 2016 "Lisbon Metropolitan Area Sustainable Urban Mobility Action Plan" (PAMUS) is a strategic document that supports the Strategic Urban Development Plan and guides AML's actions until 2020, setting out the investment priorities of AML's municipalities for this period.

The intervention proposals are based on intervention priority 4.5 "Promoting low-carbon strategies" and are structured around 6 strategic intervention axes:
Axis I - Matching the public transport offer to the population's mobility needs.
Axis II - Strengthening the intermodality of the transport system
Axis III - Strengthening the connectivity of the metropolitan road network and railway modernization.
Axis IV - Strengthening the use of soft modes.
Axis V - Implementing mobility management measures.
Axis VI - Improving the performance of the logistics system.

On April 26, 2018, at the proposal of the Executive Committee, the Lisbon Metropolitan Council approved the amendment to the PAMUS, following the opinion of the CCDRLVT. Subsequently, on July 4, 2019, the Lisbon Metropolitan Council approved a new proposal for an amendment, which resulted in the inclusion in the PAMUS-AML of the Integrated Platform for Ticketing Systems and Services and Intelligent Transport Systems project. On November 20, 2023, the revision of the AML Sustainable Urban Mobility Action Plan - PAMUS-AML was approved, to include projects.

Reports - Volume I and II
Revisions to the PAMUS - In 2018, following the opinion of the CCDRLVT, in 2019, to include the Integrated Platform for Ticketing Systems and Services and Intelligent Transport Systems project, and in 2023, to adapt to the new funding programs and include other projects defined by the municipalities.

Studies

Summary performance reports on the public passenger transport service in the Lisbon metropolitan area (2016-2019 and 2020) and mobility survey in the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan areas (2017).

Reporting and Publication Obligations, in compliance with Regulation no. 1370/2007 - 2020 Report and 2016 to 2019 Report. (7 + 8 pdf)
Mobility Survey in the Metropolitan Areas of Porto and Lisbon - 2017 (pdf)