Estação Rodoviária de Santa Maria, Bus terminal in Santa Maria, Brazil.
The Estação Rodoviária de Santa Maria is a central transportation hub with multiple boarding areas serving regional and long-distance bus routes across the country. The facility offers a 24-hour food court, free restrooms, and services such as luggage storage and package delivery.
The first bus station opened on 27 February 1942 on Avenida Rio Branco, run by Luis Mathias Aita and Guilherme Lang; José Aita took over the concession in 1947 and passed it to his sons Waldomiro and Vinicio in 1953. On 17 September 1960 it moved to Rua General Canabarro, where state finance secretary Miguel Meirelles called it one of the country's best terminals. The current terminal opened at 00:01 on 8 December 1996, when a Planalto bus from Rio Grande arrived after the last departure from the old site.
The station also runs a branch post in Camobi, at km 235 of the RSC-287 near the entrance to the UFSM campus. Buses there serve every municipality reaching Santa Maria via the RSC-287, and the post handles more traffic than most towns in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul.
The facility provides luggage storage, package shipping options, and monitored parking for travelers and visitors. The station operates around the clock and includes various shops and services for an extended stay.
The terminal received First Category Bus Station status in 1972, establishing it as a major transportation hub for southern Brazil. This classification reflects its importance within the region's connectivity network.
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