Rio undergoing huge transformation in wake of 2016 Summer Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO – Rio is no different than a lot of large cities in the world; traffic can make getting from point A to point B a huge undertaking.

The city is notoriously congested. The population comprises almost 6.5 million people. Now imagine adding 500,000 more, essentially all at once.

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With six months to go until the start of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio is in the midst of a major transformation.

“We're building 150 kilometers of public transportation new sports venues, we're making sure the airport is renovated,” said Gustavo Nascimento of a Rio 2016 Olympic Committee.

Navigating the streets of Rio will be easier for Olympic visitors, thanks to a new light rail system that is currently under construction. The rail should be finished in time for the Games.

The light rails coupled with the Rio’s new bus transit lines — which are intended to serve Rio long after the Games — are revolutionizing public transportation in the city.

“The B.R.T. is an interconnection that will encompass the entire vicinity of the city. It’s linking the metro to the train to the bus lines,” Nascimento said.


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