Use of waterway transport integrated to urban transportation systems in Amazonian cities: a vision of sustainable mobility

Abstract

Over time, in Amazonia, water transportation became a penetration and occupation vector, defining flows over the region by settlement locations and influencing the supply process of either freight or passengers. However, in urban areas with river fronts, road transport prevailed, wasting the potential offered by water transport. This could be used as complementary, integrated, and, therefore, be a factor of social inclusion and promotion of sustainable mobility. In this article, an exploratory study of integrated intermodal transport was undertaken, in a strategic planning vision for Belem, Brazil, based on literature review, using databases of transport surveys from pre-existing studies and on-site observation of the city of Belem. The challenges were discussed in terms of an analysis scale covering integration dimensions, as well as presenting a possible intermodal network, integrating urban and water transportation. Among the results, it was noted that on the mainland, water transportation is desirable, to escape from urban road traffic, reducing costs and minimizing travel times. It was also observed that all Belem areas with one interconnecting road, regardless of distance and travel time to downtown, are more developed and, therefore, more valued than the insular areas; therefore it is supposed that an intermodal network could improve accessibility for islands? population, promoting social inclusion. In general, the use of water transport integrated to global urban transportation systems seems possible, but there are many questions to be solved in the implementation of that mode in Belem.