BRT gets new route; focal persons assigned

A new route has been assigned to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System project in Cebu City, Mayor Edgardo Labella revealed following a meeting with representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7, Department of Transportation, and World Bank.

The new route will no longer include Natalio Bacalso specifically Barangay Bulacao to Mambaling, as well as the Banilad-Talamban corridor because of narrow roads.

The original route of the 23-kilometer BRT will start from Barangay Bulacao and will traverse N. Bacalso Avenue, the South Road Properties, Osmeña Boulevard,

Escario Street, and Governor Cuenco Avenue going to Barangay Talamban.

The amended route will start from the South Road Properties to Barangay Mambaling and will traverse N. Bacalso to Osmeña Boulevard, N. Escario Street, Archbishop Reyes Street, and up to the I.T. Park.

There will be two terminals – at the SRP and at the I.T. Park. Seventeen stations will be distributed along the whole route.

Labella said DPWH, DOTr, and World Bank are now finalizing the number of properties that will be affected by the implementation of the BRT.

City Planning Officer Engr. Joel Reston said focus is given on lot acquisition and the parcillary survey, which is needed to complete the detailed engineering design of the BRT.

“Dili man gyud maka-start sa civil works kon dili mahuman ang lot acquisition maong mao na ang gi-focus karon (The civil works cannot start until lot acquisition is completed that is why that is the focus now),” he said.

He said the project has three packages – along Osmeña Boulevard from P. Del Rosario Street to the Capitol Grounds; SRP to N. Bacalso; and Escario Street to I.T Park.

Meanwhile, Labella assigned Reston, City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez, and Department of General Services head, Atty. June Maratas, as focal persons who will coordinate with the World Bank during the project’s implementation.

It was World Bank itself that asked the city to assigned focal persons.

“We try to impress upon them that it would jibe also with the national effort, national government’s thrust, which is the so-called integrated intermodal traffic system. So, that was the first meeting. There would be more meetings,” said Mayor Edgardo Labella.

The BRT project is targeted for completion by 2022.