Part 2/9:
To understand why Porto needed a Metro in the first place, we must delve into its urban development. The Porto metropolitan area, now home to approximately 1.7 million residents, has long been a hub for manufacturing and services. However, the area's urban fabric was hampered by its medieval layout, characterized by narrow winding streets, making any significant expansion challenging.
By the 20th century, the city experienced extensive suburbanization, leading to severe traffic congestion as suburbs grew while public transit options dwindled. The former tram system was replaced with an unreliable bus network that further encouraged car use, exacerbating the traffic crisis.