Councilor Nabil Bonduki (PT) has filed a lawsuit to halt the bus fare increase in São Paulo, from R$ 5 to R$ 5.30 starting January 6, 2026. He challenges the Municipal Transit and Transport Council meeting scheduled for January 2, during the year-end recess. The measure, announced by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) on December 29, 2025, amounts to a 6% hike.
São Paulo councilor Nabil Bonduki (PT) filed a popular action in the Court of Justice of São Paulo on December 30, 2025, at the Central Public Treasury Forum, to delay the bus fare increase. The move aims to suspend the Municipal Transit and Transport Council (CMTT) meeting set for January 2, 2026, which will review the hike announced by the city hall.
Bonduki contends that scheduling the meeting during the year-end recess, when municipal bodies operate on emergency shifts without formal hours, undermines public debate and civil society involvement. "The holding of the meeting is a necessary step for the city hall to implement the 30-centavo increase – already announced – in the bus fare. However, for the Council's action to be effective, more time is needed for public debate on the accounts and cost spreadsheets of transportation," the councilor told Folha de S.Paulo.
The 6% increase, raising the fare from R$ 5 to R$ 5.30 starting January 6, 2026, was confirmed by Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) on December 29, 2025. According to the city hall, the adjustment is below the IPC-Fipe Transportation index, which rose 6.5% over the past 12 months, though it exceeds the 2025 accumulated inflation per IPCA, estimated at 4.41% by IBGE (one source cites 3.9%). The change affects millions of daily public transport users in the capital.
The new fare will be forwarded to the City Council for legal processing. Meanwhile, the state government announced a 3.85% hike for metro and train fares, from R$ 5.20 to R$ 5.40, also effective January 6, 2026, below the IPCA.
