DOTR WANTS DEPOT FOR BRT BUSES
Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. said DOTr Assistant Secretary Arnulfo Fabellar told him about the matter when they met last Thursday Lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap, project manager of the BRT, said that around 176 buses will be used in phase I of the project
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is asking the Cebu City Government to identify an area that will serve as temporary depot for buses that will be used for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. said DOTr Assistant Secretary Arnulfo Fabellar told him about the matter when they met last Thursday.
Gabuya earlier set a meeting with the National Bicycle Organization along with Fabellar and other DOTr officials because he wanted to incorporate a bike lane in the proposed BRT route.
Gabuya said that DOTr needs an area with at least three hect- ares of space, where buses for the BRT project and a maintenance section will be temporarily placed while civil works for the roads are ongoing.
Gabuya said they initially identified the portion of the South Road Properties (SRP) where the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 is located.
Gabuya said DPWH 7 has five hectares but only two hectares were occupied. But it will still be up to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to approve it.
Lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap, project manager of the BRT, said that around 176 buses will be used in phase 1 of the project.
It will have 33 bus stations and is projected to serve 330,000 passengers daily.
In a text message sent to Yap, Fabellar said there will be two contractors who will build and operate the projects, respectively.
The P10.6-billion mass transit project will run from Bulacao in the south to Talamban in the north. But the first phase of the 16-km. project will start with the construction of bus ways, bus stations and other facilities on Osmeña Blvd.
The number of bus stations that Phase 1 of the Bus Rapid Transit of Cebu City will have
At present, DOTr is in downloading the funds for the procurement of the road-right-of-way.
DOTr has allocated P1.3 billion for the lot acquisition and resettlement of those who will be affected by the project.
As to the bike lanes, Gabuya said DOTr is aware of the matter since it is important that before any civil works of the BRT will start, the proposal will be included to avoid changes in the plan.
33