BRT study nears completion

CEBU, Philippines - The completion of the feasibility study for Bus Rapid Transit System in Cebu City is already at hand.

The BRT System Technical Working Group (BRT-TWG) has started wrapping up the feasibility study in yesterday’s second to the last meeting before they submit the draft to the City Government mid-August.

Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap, one of members of the TWG, said that the final draft of the feasibility study will be submitted to the TWG on the first week of August.

The TWG will then submit it to Mayor Michael Rama then to the Cebu City Council for their concurrence.

Yap said that the council’s concurrence is needed before they communicate with the World Bank and the Department of Transportation and Communication about the city’s commitment to the project.

As proposed, the project will be called TransCebu.

After the expression of commitment, the TWG will continuously meet to focus next about the project’s detailed design, engineering and implementation.

During the implementation stage, the DOTC will establish a special unit in Cebu that will handle the BRT project.

The BRT Project in Cebu will cost about USD195 million to be funded by the World Bank. It is a loan to be shouldered by the national government. At present, the WB has allocated USD185 million for the project.

The BRT system in Cebu will be the first in the country. The pilot route is from Bulacao – Ayala – Talamban traversing N. Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, Escario Street and the Banilad-Talamban road.

There will be 14 BRT stations along the route. The BRT is designed flexible for expansion in the future.

The construction of stations and BRT lanes would also mean road widening and rehabilitation or beautification of the sidewalks. The project encourages walking as each station is hundreds of meters apart from the next.The BRT system is expected to be operational by 2015.  (FREEMAN)