Coastal transport
Firm asks City to address transport, traffic concerns in South Road Properties
Cebu City asks Talisay City to help apprehend colorum vehicles plying South Road Properties
ONE of the investors at the South Road Properties (SRP) raised at least 10 concerns that need to be addressed by the Cebu City Government for the implementation of the high quality public transport system (HQPTS) in the area.
The HQPTS are hybrid buses that will serve as public transportation at the SRP while the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is not yet in place.
Some 69 buses that can carry 50 passengers per unit will be deployed by the third quarter of this year in anticipation of the opening of the SM Seaside City Complex of SM Prime Holdings Inc. in September.
The deployment of HQPTS was requested by the firm.
Priority
In a letter to City BRT Head Rafael Yap dated Feb. 4, SM Regional Operations Manager for the Visayas Sherry Tuvilla said there should be dedicated or priority lanes for the buses.
The buses, which will mainly traverse the SRP, will have four routes that include Talisay-Mambaling, Talisay-North Bus Terminal, Talisay-Mactan Cebu Interna-
tional Airport and North Bus Terminal-Mambaling.
These routes have already been approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) last month.
Tuvilla also said there is a need for the City to upgrade its traffic lights so that it will have a bus priority system.
“(It should also be) linked to a control center to allow database collection as required by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board,” she added.
Tuvilla said the road widening project at S. Osmeña Blvd. should already be finished by August this year.
Particularly at the SRP, Tuvilla asked the City to allow left turns and Uturns and to open the center islands so that buses can enter their mall.
The U-turn slots, she said, should consider the height and width of the bus so they can properly maneuver.
Tuvilla also asked for traffic signs at the coastal area, particularly at the Mambaling-coastal road intersection.
Further, Tuvilla asked for the status of the Mambaling road expansion and the timeline for the SRP road development.
Study
Sought for comment about the matter, SRP Management Office Head Roberto Varquez said the road widening for the Mambaling access road has not yet been implemented because they are still waiting for the result of the technical study of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH) 7.
The study will include, among others, how wide the road will be and how much will it cost.
On the request of SM for dedicated or priority lanes, Yap who is also the head of the City Traffic Operations Management, said the matter will still have to be discussed with the DPWH and the City Council.
As for the upgrading of traffic lights, Yap said it has already been discussed with the DPWH.
Yap said he is okay with upgrading, saying that Citom has P10 million for it. Among the areas considered are the L. Pardo junction at the SRP and the Mambaling-coastal area.
As for the left turns and U-turns, Yap said there are facilities being installed now. The slots will be under the SRP-Talisay bridge and another one near the viaduct.
On the S. Osmeña road widening project, Mayor Michael Rama recently said that the closed portion now will be opened by March 15 provided that there will be road safety measures.
These include the implementation of a speed limit, installation of more street lights and installation of lighted road dividers. He said there is a need to clean the road and improve the sidewalks, among others.
During their recent regular session, the City Council tackled SM’s letter.
They referred the same to its committee on transportation for report and recommendation.
Help
The Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) sought the help of the Talisay City Government in eradicating colorum vehicles from plying the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) towards the South Road Properties (SRP).
Joy Tumulak, Citom operations chief, told reporters that around 90 percent of colorum vehicles were catering to Talisay City residents, especially those living within the interior sections of the city.
Tumulak said they have sought the help of the Talisay City Government as majority of accidents in SRP involved residents from the southern city.
He said that since they conducted monitoring at the SRP since Dec. 24, around 25 accidents happened, most victims were from Talisay City.
Tumulak said they were able to monitor around 16 private vehicles reportedly plying the SRP and getting passengers despite not having a franchise.
Most of these vehicles reportedly take passengers and allow them to pay P10 per head.
Majority of these vehicles were not only colorum, but also committing other traffic violations such as overloading.
“Maghatud ni sila sa SRP padung sa Plaza Independencia, dayun gikan sa Plaza balik napud sa SRP,” Tumulak added.
Tumulak said they were able to determine the names and identities of the owners of colorum vehicles after some of their personnel posed as passengers.
Help
In a press conference yesterday, Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said they are willing to cooperate with the Cebu City Government in their campaign to stop colorum vehicles from plying within their jurisdiction.
Based on the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), any vehicle caught committing the “colorum” violation could face fines up to P1 million below.
Aside from the fines, the vehicle owner could also have his certificate of public convenience (CPC) revoked and have his vehicle blacklisted.