Lisbon Earmarks 62 Million Euros for 140 Electric Carris Buses and Pairs Them With New Bus Lanes in Its 2027 Plan

Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa) has put 62 million euros in its draft 2027 budget to buy 140 electric buses for Carris, the city's bus and tram company, and has paired the purchase with a programme of new bus lanes. The plan was set out on Friday 13 November by deputy mayor Gonçalo Reis (PSD), who holds the finance and mobility portfolios, Lusa reported via Notícias ao Minuto.

According to the proposal, the 140 buses come under the renewal of Carris's electric fleet, which "more than doubles, with a substantial increase in drivers". Reis argued that new vehicles on their own are not enough: "It makes no sense for the council and Carris to invest in new equipment and more drivers and then not invest in the road for bus lanes."

We covered the budget's headline figures and tax measures on Friday. This piece looks at what the plan holds for getting around the city.

What else is in the mobility plan

Lusa's report lists these transport projects in the proposal from the PSD, CDS-PP and IL coalition led by mayor Carlos Moedas:

• Trams and MetroBus: extending tram lines 15E and 16E, and the MetroBus link connecting Lisbon to Oeiras and Amadora.
• Cycle lanes: upgrades, safety improvements and expansion of the cycle network, with changes to the lanes on Rua Castilho, Avenida da Índia and other streets planned for next year.
• Slower streets: a road-safety plan for 15 more neighbourhoods as "zonas 30+Bici", where the speed limit for all vehicles is 30 km/h and cars, public transport and bicycles share the road.
• Traffic lights and safety: an upgrade of the traffic-light system run by EMEL, the municipal parking and mobility company, and better security on public transport.
• Free passes: consolidating free public transport passes for young and older residents of the city.
• Parking and roads: more car parks to free up street space, a new regulation for "soft mobility" (walking, cycling and similar), and 40 million euros for road resurfacing in 2027 and 2028.

The council's own summary adds 13.5 km of "comfortable" walking routes, 110 accessible pedestrian crossings and the launch of works on Avenida Almirante Reis once the design is finished.

What it means for you

None of this is final yet. The council says the draft goes to a meeting of the council executive on 27 November and then to the Municipal Assembly (Assembleia Municipal) in December, to take effect in January. Moedas has a majority on the executive but not in the assembly, so the plan can still change.

If it passes, bus users should see more electric buses and more dedicated lanes, while drivers and cyclists should expect changes to street layouts in the 30 km/h zones and on the cycle routes named above. Neither Lusa's report nor the council's summary gives a route list or timetable for the new bus lanes, and no delivery date for the 140 buses.

The opposition is focused elsewhere. The Left Bloc (BE), PCP and Livre attacked the draft for cutting housing investment, Lusa reported via Observador, and the Left Bloc says it will table amendments, which could reshape the budget before the December vote.