Public transport on rails and green public spaces LAURA COSTA1 ; FREDERICO MEIRELES1 and LUÍS LOURES1,2,3

1University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro - ECAV 1 Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, IPP, Portalegre

2 Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics -CIEO | University of Algarve PORTUGAL

e-mail: lauracosta@utad.pt; fmeireles@utad.pt; lcloures@eselvas.pt

Abstract: - It is widely acknowledged that urban public transport typologies are conditioners of the urban space design and the green structure. Since the 19th century green infrastructure and urban space in the municipalities of Porto and Matosinhos have been undergoing profound changes, largely as a result of the typologies of mobility that were implemented as is the case of the tram, the train, and recently, the light rail. Public transport on rails preserved and promoted the emergence of green spaces; squares and tree-lined avenues enabling the development of green corridors along the transport line. The presented study assesses the evolution of green spaces in two municipalities located in the North of Portugal, Porto and Matosinhos, in which the performed analysis allowed to establish a positive relation between the implementation of the surface railway infrastructure with the appearance and preservation of different green space typologies, emphasizing the relevance of this mobility type to the overall quality of the green infrastructure of the city. Key-Words: - public transport; green spaces; tree planting; urban growth. 1 Introduction Landscape is continuously changing as a result of complex and interacting processes and public transport on rails is responsible for rapid and impacting changes. 1.1 – 19th century: the arrival of the public rail transport Until the first half of the 19th century mobility was made by difficult trails using vehicles carried Mobility in Porto region was, until the first half of the 19th century, made by difficult trails using vehicles carried by men and animals. At the end of the 19th century the train, steam traction and the "americano" (transport with animal-traction that circulates on rails) are introduced as public transport and becoming most used because they are more comfortable, regular and capable of carrying a large number of people [1]. These typologies of transport will promote linear urban development along the “corridor” and stations for the implementation of activities and daily use of large numbers of people [1, 2]. To construct these rail transport were indispensable planning and design actions for delimitation spaces for rails, vehicles and pedestrians, and setting specific paving. These public transport infrastructure were implemented in Porto region in the last decades of the 19th century, a period that began to have

concerns in improving health and in offering recreational and leisure spaces for those who left rural activities and started working in the industry and he went to live in urban spaces [1, 3, 4]. As a result of the combination of these factors the construct of public transport infrastructure becomes opportunities for the emergence of streets with trees, squares and gardens in urban spaces. 1.2 - 20th century: rethink public rail transport In the early 20th century continued urban growth that was observed since the 19th century, which greatly was due to the continued industrialization of Porto and Matosinhos. In these municipalities also remained the construction of public transport on rails, with emphasis on the tram lines, with the main objectives to link consolidated urban areas with high numbers of users, places with potential for the development of urban settlements or areas with activities - industrial areas, the train connection, seaport connection and areas of recreation and leisure – garden [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. By the 40s the public transport strategy changes and it is considered that the public road transport is more versatile because it is easier to penetrate the urban space and tram lines were abandoned. If in 40s and 50s buses and trams remained simultaneously in circulation, in the end of the century tram lines are practically designed to tours.

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ISBN: 978-1-61804-338-2 60

As the tram is replaced by road transport (bus), urban development is no longer linear and becomes more dispersive and the requalification of public space is no longer so directly related to transportation [1]. 1:3 21th century: back to public transport on rails At the end of the 20th century in Porto region public transport could not meet the needs of users, for which it became necessary to introduce a new type of transport – Metro, that allows cross urban and peri-urban areas, transport high number of users and at higher speeds. Metro settled in the Porto region since 2003 in a mixed system of surface - light rail and underground - Metro requires specific conditions of construction for its circulation, which has involved planning actions that promoted the requalification of public space along the "corridor" in several municipalities. This requalification resulted in the construction of public spaces and green areas and the maintenance of existing green spaces. The design of public green spaces along the Metro was engaged in the definition of green corridors associated to the transport infrastructure [8]. 2 Problem Formulation This paper explores the relationship between public transport on rails and the promotion of green spaces in two municipalities: Porto and Matosinhos (North Portugal) and is intending to answer the question: can the public transport on rails promote the construction and/or requalification and/or preservation of public green spaces? The methodology used is based on the comparative analysis between the construction dates of public transport on rails, construction or requalification dates of public green spaces in types of streets trees planting, squares, gardens and parks and the expansion of urban area since the end of 19th century (first line of public rail transport) until the beginning of the 21 th century (last rail infrastructure installed – light rail). 3 Discussion and conclusions Three analytical maps were done considering the growth of urban space, public transport on rails and public green areas in Porto and Matosinhos in 1911 (Fig. 1), for reflecting the emergence of the "americano" steam traction, tram and train; in 1930 to correspond to the decade where the tram lines had greater expansion (Fig. 2); and in 2013, by reflecting the light rail arrival (Fig. 3).

It was also made a table that aims to relate the construction dates of public transport on rails with the dates of construction / rehabilitation of public green spaces (Table 1).  

 

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19TH century – transport rails arrival and the emergence of public gardens and squares It is observed from the analysis of Fig. 1, whether in Porto or in Matosinhos a linear growth of urban areas is coinciding with the lines of the "americano". It is also observed in Table 1 that the construction and/or requalification of streets, squares and gardens inserted along public transport corridors have very close opening dates of the construction dates of the public transport rail lines. As examples can be indicated: opening of "americano" line Miragaia-Foz in 1872 and Passeio Alegre garden inaugurated in 1890, or opening of "americano" line Marques de Pombal - Campo Lindo in 1885 and requalification of Praça Marques de Pombal in 1898. The train lines are also important as urban corridor, but the stations are located far from each other and train fostering higher speeds whereby the public space and leisure are limited to areas adjacent to stations and crossings. Matosinhos has several train lines and stations responsible for the growth of some of their urban centers: Line Porto - Póvoa de Varzim - Famalicão (1875) (Senhora da Hora station) promotes industrial and urban area; Linha do Ramal de Leixões ou Linha do Leça (1893) that made the connection to the Senhora da Hora station having two terminals relevant for urban growth, the first because it allowed connection to Leixões (sea port) and the other was the connection Senhora da Hora (Fig. 1; Table 1). In Oporto, the station Campanhã (1875) allowed to create connections to the north and the south of the country as possible industrialization of this area and urban growth. Links between tram, "americano" and railway lines promote requalification of public space associated with the stations and “corridors” examples: rotunda da Boavista, Jardim de S. Lázaro; e Campo 24 de Agosto) (Table 1).

Table 1 – Installation of public transport rail lines and greening in urban areas - Porto and Matosinhos “americano”, tram lines and train

Date line opening

street(s), trees planting, garden and square landscaping along “americano” and tram lines

date of intervention

“Americano”and Tram lines - open dates between 1870 - 1907 Miragaia (Porta da Alfândega) - Foz

1872 Urban requalification and street trees planting in Douro river waterfront

1865

Jardim do Passeio Alegre landscaping 1890

Foz - Matosinhos 1872 Urban requalification and Carreiros street trees planting Carreiros street

1869

Av. Brasil and Av. Montevideu landscaping Decades of 20 and 30 of the 20th century

Matosinhos - Leça da Palmeira (Marginal)

1872 Alameda de Passos Manuel 1896 (VM plants) Parque Basilio Teles 1907 (APDL

projects) Carlos Alberto – Rua da Boavista - Fonte da Moura Boavista - Foz (Cadouços).

1874

1878

Urban requalification and street trees planting in Rotunda da Boavista and Av. da Boavista: east and west section to the intersection of Fonte da Moura

1892 (Ferreira Telles Plant)

Rotunda da Boavista landscaping 1906

Fonte da Moura - Cadouços – Foz Foz – Matosinhos (Rua Roberto Ivens)

1878

1883

R. de Gondarém street trees planting

Last decades of 19th century and beginning of 20th century

Carmo - Massarelos 1872 Jardim da Cordoaria landscaping 1860-1870

R. 1º de Dezembro street trees planting 1892 (Ferreira Telles Plant)

Campo Mártires da Pátria – Palácio de Cristal

1874 Palácio de Cristal construction and landscaping

1865

Praça do Infante – Praça da Liberdade

1882 Praça do Infante D. Henrique landscaping 1888 / 1900 Urban requalification and Praça da Liberdade street trees planting

1893

Praça da Liberdade - Batalha - São Lázaro - Campanhã

1874 Jardim de S. Lázaro landscaping 1839 (inauguration) 1869 (remodeling)

Praça da Liberdade – Praça da República - Rua da Boavista – Carmo

1875 (?) Praça da República landscaping 1909

Marquês de Pombal – Praça da República – Lapa - Constituição, Vale Formoso – Campo Lindo

1885 Praça Marquês de Pombal landscaping 1898

1895 start tram; 1904 ends on “americano (animal traction); 1914 ends on steam traction Train lines - open dates between 1870 - 1907

Train line Póvoa de Varzim and Famalicão. Station - Boavista

1875

Street trees planting: in Rotunda da Boavista

1892 (Ferreira Telles Plant)

Rotunda da Boavista landscaping 1906 Campanhã station 1875 Street trees planting around the station 1892 (Ferreira Telles

Plant)

Train line Ramal de Leixões ou linha de Leça

1893

Alameda de Passos Manuel 1896 (VM plants)

Urban requalification and street trees planting av. Menéres e República Alameda de Leça ou Sala de visita Jardim Domingues de Oliveira

Last decade of 19th century and beginning of 20th century

Tram Lines between 1907 and 1913

Extension Boavista - Castelo do Queijo

1907 - 1913 remaining western end of Avenida da Boavista street trees planting

1917 (?)

Extension Paranhos Ponte da Pedra

1907 - 1913 Jardim da Arca d´Água landscaping 1928 (?)

Extension Praça da República - Monte dos Burgos

1907 - 1913 Praça da República landscaping 1913 (remodeling)

Extension Marques de Pombal – Águas Santas

1907 - 1913

Extension S. Roque - Venda Nova

1907 - 1913 Jardim do Campo 24 de Agosto landscaping 1904

Tram Lines between 1914 and 1935 Extension Fonte da Moura – Castelo do Queijo

1914-1935 Street trees planting in new urban areas Decades of 20 to 50 of the 20th century

Extension S. Pedro da Cova 1914-1935 Praça Velasquez Francisco Sá Carneiro Decade of 40 of the 20th century

Extension Ermesinde 1935-1950 Extension Matosinhos – Leça da Palmeira (around doca nº 1)

1935-1950 Quinta da Conceição as a public park (APDL rent Quinta at CMM)

1956 - 1958

Light rail (metro) and Underground (metro) lines - open dates 2003

Metro –Trindade – Sr. de Matosinhos

2003 Urban requalification and street trees planting – Porto e Matosinhos Connection with Parque Basílio Teles, Parque do Real, Parque urbano do Carriçal and Rotunda da Boavista Connection with Jardim do Sr. do Sr, do Padrão anda v. Atlântica

2003

Metro - Estádio do Dragão – Trindade

2004 Urban requalification and street trees planting - Porto Campo 24 de Agosto Garden (remodeling and station) Connection with Parque de S. Roque

2004

Metro – Câmara de Gaia – Pólo Universitário

2005 Urban requalification and street trees planting - Porto Av. dos Aliados (remodeling and station) Praça do Marquês (remodeling and station) Connection with Quinta do Covelo and Jardim da Cordoaria

2005

Metro –Senhora da Hora – Pedras Rubras

2005 Urban requalification and street trees planting - Matosinhos Connection with Parque do Carriçal

2005

Metro –Fonte do Cuco – Forum da Maia

2005 Urban requalification and street trees planting - Matosinhos

2005

Metro –Pólo Universitário– Hospital de S. João

2006 Urban requalification and street trees planting – Matosinhos Parque da Quinta de Lamas

2006 2015 (inauguration)

Sources: Ferreira Telles plant 1892; “Vila de Matosinhos com a canalização para o abastecimento de água” plant 1896; film from Serviços Cinematográficos do Exército – Companhia Produtora 1927; Marques, 2009; Costa, 2015.

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20th Century: rethink public rail transport and green public spaces In the early 20th century, the construction of tram lines continues as well as the construction of gardens and squares and urban growth, which is greatly due to the ongoing industrialization of the municipalities of Porto and Matosinhos (Fig. 2 and Table 1). But from the middle of the century road public transport becomes the most used verifying also change in public green spaces structure, leaving a positive relationship between the implementation of public transport and public green spaces. At the end of the century green spaces are understood according to principles of verde continuum (green infrastructure) considering their planning and design preservation of natural resources and ecological systems and protection of cultural and heritage values. These principles were reflected in planning and projects that took place in Porto and Matosinhos can be given as examples: Parque da Cidade do Porto, Quintas (Quinta de S. Roque da Lameira e Monte Aventino, Quinta do Covelo, Quinta das Virtudes) as in Matosinhos Parque do Real (Fig. 3). 21th century: back to public transport on rails and to the green public spaces From the analysis of Fig. 3 it possible to observe that Metro has been a public transport system distributed through Porto and Matosinhos in mixed system: light rail and underground. In order to implement the construction it has been necessary to carry out actions in urban spaces. When metro runs underground has aimed to locate the stations in public green spaces. In Porto municipality some of the spaces used as metro stations had already been used by “americano” or the tram. It is interesting that the Metro kept the same locations of these centenarians green spaces of the city as Rotunda da Boavista, Praça Marques de Pombal, Campo 24 de Agosto and Avenida dos Aliados/Praça da Liberdade (fig. 3 and Table 1). In Oporto and Matosinhos great extension of the line runs on the surface permitting to integrate the line with existing green spaces – gardens and parks (Fig. 3 and Table 1) promoting their requalification and use. Also is possible observe the influence of the light rail in the construction of green spaces in the urban space by planting new streets and gardens. For the municipalities of Porto and Matosinhos is concluded that: 1 - Public transport on rail allows the construction, requalification and preservation of green spaces; 2 - When public transport on the rail runs on surface and inserted into the urban space the “corridor” of circulation is able to requalify public

space creating planting squares, parks and gardens; 3 - The light rail system and metro (underground) allowed the preservation, requalification and construction of green spaces along the lines defining green corridors closely related to transport infrastructure; 4 - The public railway transport enables the construction and/or preservation of public green spaces associated with their stations and connections; and 5 - The processes of urban growth, expansion of public spaces and typologies of public transport reflect relations of cause/effect in time and space. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge financial support given to Luís Loures whose contribute to this paper is financed by National Funds provided by FCT- Foundation for Science and Technology through project UID/SOC/04020/2013. References: [1] Pacheco, E. Os transportes colectivos rodoviários no grande porto: ensaio de geografia humana, Master Thesis. (Universidade de Coimbra). 1992) [2] Sousa F. and Alves J. F. Os transportes Colectivos do Porto. Perspectiva histórica. (STCP, S.A. – Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto, S.A.), 2001. [3] Madureira, H. A infra-estrutura verde da Bacia do Leça; Uma estratégia para o desenvolvimento sustentável na região metropolitana do Porto. Porto: Edições Afrontamento. 2011. [4] Lemos T.C. Produção Social do Território – Algumas notas sobre a génese de um espaço residencial em Matosinhos. Second International Confernence of Urban Young Researches. Instituto Superior das Ciências do Trabalho e da Energia (ISCTE). 2011. [5] Moura, N. A Foz do Douro: Evolução Urbana. Master Thesis. (Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto). 2009. [6] Oliveira, J.M. Lazer em Leça da Palmeira: lazer e evolução urbana litoral entre finais do século XIX e meados do século XX, Revista da Faculdade de Letras. Geog., I S. Vol. XV/XVI 2000, pp. 97-115. [7] Marques, T. Dos Jardineiros Paisagistas e Horticultores do Porto de Oitocentos ao Modernismo na Arquitetura Paisagista em Portugal. Ph.D. (Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia).2009 [7] Costa, L. A vegetação na implementação de projetos de execução de Arquitetura Paisagista – caracterização e definição de critérios de avaliação. Ph.D. (FCUP). 2015.

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