Mobility in Aveiro: Little or nothing has been done in the past decade
Aveiro has grown – no one has doubts. But it is important to understand how, why and with any consequences. Demographic growth in the city has continued in recent years largely through migration and people’s arrival in search of better opportunities. However, despite this dynamic, the number of voters in Aveiro decreased from 2024 to 2025, a clear indication: there are more population, yes, but less than the population with the effective ability to determine the political path of the boycott. The “real” population is growing, but the city is lower to those who want to live, work and build the future.
Written by Francisco Albukirk *
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The interpretation is simple and worrying: a lack of housing and effective public policies in this field. With the increase in prices and the scarcity of the new construction, Aveiro has become an exorbitant area for those who have income within the national average. Neighboring municipalities such as ílhavo, Oliveira do Bairro or águida are, today liquid beneficiaries of this exclusion: they receive those who cannot Aveiro or do not want to absorb them.
In recent weeks, the movement has returned to the local political debate center. It seems that all parties agree: nothing has been done in the past decade. Priorities, as we know, should be another. The movement of mobility has become a structural and transverse priority for any dangerous nomination of the municipal elections in October. In 2025, anyone who wants to win will have to provide concrete solutions to three important areas: mobility, housing and energy transmission.
Immediately, there is a clear need to improve the operational management of mobility: strengthening Busway and Aveirobus services, improving municipal roads, creating bicycles and linking them, applying lack of tolerance with illegal parking lots and restoring the confidence of citizens that are still seen as “a poor thing.” But besides short -term solutions, it is necessary to think strategically.
The removal of the Vouga line, which has been abandoned for decades, is eventually unanimously among local parties. There are already ideas circulating to change the design slightly in the Azurva area and allow direct access to the municipal stadium area. The ice in the top of the cake will be to convert this line into a real leakage column of regional movement.
With publication, finally, for the national railway plan, there is room to discuss the expansion of the Vouga line to the Aveiro or University Center. However, it seems that some of the plans presented ignore more logical, realistic and effective options. There is a talk about LRT lengthening to the urban center or even ílhavo, solutions that require tunnels, fruits, sources of high costs and uninterrupted.
The alternative is in full view of everyone: Enjoy the channel available along the northern line between Queenan and the station, where two new shepherds (Sao Bernardo and another next to the cemetery/health center) created, less than 15 minutes on foot from the university, hospital and schools. This path, associated with a Vouga line, will create a semicircular railway between the stadium and Quintan. It will cost up to 10 times of the alternatives provided, with a much smaller urban effect and similar and tangible operational benefits.
As for the call to the ílhavo center, in my opinion, it can be fully secured by the highway, once a connection from Pêga Street to PCI Street. Indeed, contact with beaches, yes, a strategy and there is a forgotten infrastructure that can be decisive: the Porto de Aviro branch, which costs 70 million euros in 2009 and is still being exposed today.
Portugal’s infrastructure (IP) has just invested 75 million in updating the northern line between Espinho and Jaya and preparing a new endeavor between OVAR and Espinho, which improves the line and eliminates level tickets. Where is Avero on this investment map? When will the municipality get the strength of negotiations to demand the IP What is fair and strategic for the region? Aveiro needs to stop being a natural view of the modernity train.
We can compare all this with a third option: do nothing. Keep everything to define it. Let the buses at the age that the rail rust, which includes prices, continues to expel families and the political discourse continues to refer everything to the “next session.” But if nothing is done, Aveiro risk being an attractive municipality, a vibrant city, a weight area. There is nothing to say that the previous dynamic is a guarantee of the future.
If we really want to welcome the future, it is time to leave speeches and move to decisions.
* Industrial gestor.
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