BRT & LRT can complement

Just as we thought that the much-ballyhooed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is paved and is ready for a serious study and implementation, another equally valuable Light Rail Transit (LRT) system proposal came about. Just like the BRT, the LRT was floated many years back and is also endorsed by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). 

To recall, in September of last year, the idea of using the much-ballyhooed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) took the front pages and dominated the airwaves. Then, several ideas have been thrown into the boiling pot. While proponents and directly affected parties were trying to raise the most profound arguments, passive bystanders were trying to tackle their thoughts and apprehensions in barbershop talks and informal gatherings. As months passed, it went deafeningly silent. Thinking it was just another idea floated by a few seemingly engrossed proponents to test the waters, the enthusiasm waned as predestined. Then the issue was resurrected on July this year upon the arrival of Mayor Tomas Osmeña from his trip abroad. Oozing with renewed enthusiasm after his ocular inspection of Curitiba's (Brazil) BRT system, the mayor is again at it. 

Before the BRT, however, can take off the ground, the proposal to build and use the LRT system surfaced. Backed by Cong. Eduardo Gullas, the proposal is now gathering steam and likewise, has national government's endorsement. While, so far, the City of Cebu (the main proponent of the BRT) has not categorically expressed its disapproval, it seems that initial reactions are not palatable in a sense. Lest we must forget, the City of Cebu's nod is necessary as the proposed LRT passes through its territory and it has the most number of commuters.

Whether all these intramurals shall escalate the civil but lingering animosities between the two (Mayor Osmeña and Cong. Gullas) proponents, it is too early to tell.   Certainly though, despite all their differences, they are both on the same page as far as the necessity of a mass transport system is concern.

Indeed, in essence, both proposals emphasize the use of a mass transport system. Mass transport system comes in many forms. Among others, these could be in the form of Light Rail Transits (LRTs) or Bus Rapid Transits (BRTs). LRTs (like those used in Metro Manila) are too expensive to build and funding could be a major stumbling block. On the other hand, the BRTs will not entail huge investment as against LRTs but will need wider road network to be effective. 

By the looks of it therefore, the decision-making process as far as the kind of approaches we may take will be long and tedious. One of the approaches, however, that we may take for the time being is to go down memory lane and take the experiences of some very successful transport systems in the world today. History will tell us that mass transportation is closely associated to industrialization, urbanization, and the separation of residence from workplace. At the onset of the 20th century, most industrialized and urbanized cities such as, London, New York, Boston and Paris already had mass transport system. By the 1920s buses were already common. In the United States, for instance, patronage of mass transit grew steadily from 1900 (six billion passengers per year) to 1927 (over 17 billion), but plunged during the Great Depression. It went up again in 1946 at a very high 23 billion passengers. 

Some Latin American countries have followed the trend. In fact, Brazil has one of the most successful BRTs. So much so that BRT has become an expression in South America to connote mass transport system through the use of buses. The ultimate goal of which is to at least approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost of using a bus transit. These can come in a variety of forms. From dedicated "busways" that have their own rights-of-way to bus services that utilize dedicated freeway lanes to limited stop buses on pre-existing routes. Among others, the most successful BRTs have either or most of the following features. They have dedicated bus lanes that operate separately from all other transport or traffic modes. In addition to using dedicated bus lanes, BRTs also take advantage of existing road network in the city by using the "bus priority methods". This simply means that buses shall be given preferential treatment. Preferential treatment of buses at intersections involved extended green time or actuation of the green light at "traffic signalized" intersections upon detection of an approaching bus. However, it is observed that intersection priority can be particularly helpful only when implemented in conjunction with bus lanes or streets, because general-purpose traffic does not intervene between buses and traffic signals.

On the other hand, Metro Manila has successfully used the LRT system. When crude oil went up as high as US$147 per barrel, car owners left their cars in their garages and took this transport system to the max. Compared to the Metro Manila's LRT, however, the proposed fare of P15.00 upon boarding plus the P0.50 per kilometer, thereafter, is quite steep. Comparatively, the Pasay Rotunda to the North Avenue stretch spans several kilometers and commuters just pay P15.00 the entire route.   For your comments and suggestions, please email to [email protected].