MRT set to finish in Cebu, Davao by Nov.

The proponents of the Cebu Monorail Transit (MRT) system are set to complete their feasibility studies in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue by November.

PhilTram Transportation Consortium Corp. public relations officer Cerwin Eviota told SunStar Cebu that the feasibility study includes details on the ridership and traffic scheme of the proposed monorail.

He said that since June, PhilTram has been analyzing the present distribution of passengers, possible fares, preliminary design and related cost estimates, among others.

The feasibility study alone will cost US$2 million and is funded by the One Belt, One Road Program.

Last week, PhilTram Transportation Consortium Corp. and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group, Co. Ltd. (CEC) sealed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to pursue the multi-billion-peso monorail projects in Metro Cebu and oth- er sites in the country.

Both the Manila-based firm and Beijing-based company agreed to prioritize the planned 12-kilometer monorail line in Cebu from Mandaue City to the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City.

Eviota said that once the feasibility study is finished, a team from CEC’s technical group in the Philippines will visit Cebu and the other project sites for inspections and preliminary observations preparatory to more detailed studies.

Under the MOC, CEC will undertake the feasibility studies to help attract financing and consortium partners for all possible projects, as well as the detailed engineering and design.

These include the architectural design of the stations, terminals, stockyard and maintenance depot, property development and other rail related projects.

“The bankable feasibility study plus the details engaged in the prior feasibility study will follow for the next six to 12 months that CEC will undertake,” Eviota said.

He said that other than CEC, PhilTram will also be working with local property developers to host, build and operate the off-rail part of the stations, which will include leasable spaces, parking, and advertising, among others.

“There are now three who are interested, and will just await for the result of the evaluation,” Eviota said.

In a previous report, PhilTram president Arnold Ray Aguilar said they are targeting to have the monorail operational by 2020.

The MRT, Alagar said, can ferry at least 40,000 passengers per hour every day, or 1,200 persons per trip at a fare of P10.

The proposed MRT will have a terminal hub, which will be located at the foot of the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, and 14 stations from Mandaue to Cebu City.

Once operational, it will pass United Nations Ave., D.M. Cortes Street, A. Soriano Ave. in Mandaue City, going to the SRP.

Alagar said the monorail is designed to go to Mandaue City, Consolacion in the north, and SRP to Talisay City and Minglanilla in the south./