VLT Baixada Santista

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In November 2014, Consorcio BR Mobilidade Baixada Santista, a partnership of Viacao Piracicabana e o Grupo Comporte Participacoes S.A, won in a competitive bidding the right to maintain and operate the Integrated Metropolitan System of the Baixada Santista (SIM RMBS), which offers light rail services to the following cities located at the state of Sao Paulo: Bertioga, Cubatao, Guaruja, Itanhaem, Mongagua, Peruibe, Praia Grande, São Vicente and Santos. The light rail system was planned to have 34 km in total length. The first 7.5 km started commercial operations in January 2016 (phase 1). The construction works of the remaining 26.5 km was set to begin in 2017. Consorcio BR Mobilidade Baixada Santista was the only participant in the bidding process. The bidding criteria was the lowest payment to be made by the government to the sponsors (the winning bid was a total value of US$ 1.3 billion or BRL 298.1 million over the duration of the contract). The 20-year contract was signed in June 2015. The state invested US$ 432 million (BRL 1.6 billion) in the first 6.5 km (phase 1) of the project, and the private sponsor committed to invest US$ 162 million (BRL 600 million) in rolling stock and buses to operate in conjunction with the light rail system.