Existing plan for BRT a go
The P16.3 billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project will push through without alterations to the original scope of the plan.
This was disclosed by Cebu City Administrator Nigel Paul Villarete who was tasked by Mayor Tomas Osmeña to oversee the project’s implementation along with BRT Project Manager Rafael Christopher Yap.
Villarete said that while the Department of Transportation agreed to implement a dedicated lane at the center road along the Ayala to Talamban section of the BRT Project, DOTr has apprehensions on the changes in the timeline of the project’s implementation.
“We already received the response from Usec. Tim Orbos of DOTr informing the city that they share the same view of implementing a full BRT system for Cebu City. This includes the Ayala-Talamban corridor, which will be widened first to introduce the segregated lanes,” Villarete said.
“However, executionwise, the biggest concern at present is: implement the project as it is, that is, without changing the original scope at this time. There is also the added concern that changing scope and timeline would need another round of NEDA approval which will further delay the project,” Villarete added.
Earlier, Mayor Tomas Osmeña requested DOTr to review the implementation of a dedicated lane at the center road along the Ayala to Talamban corridor.
Under the current plan, BRT buses will share the BaniladTalamban road with private vehicles but Osmeña said a dedicated lane for buses will be better compared to a road sharing scheme.
Villarete said DOTr will direct the consultant in charge in the design to prepare the parcellary plans for the right-of-way acquisition in the Ayala to Talamban corridor while phase 1 of the project is being implemented.
“In effect, the DOTr agreed with the city's position for full BRT (median segregated lane) operations for the Ayala to Talamban corridor. It's just a question of timing on the optimum way of reaching the desired results, considering that the mixed-traffic option does significantly improve overall average travel time, and delivers the huge economic benefits from a BRT system,” Villarete said.
Last week, officials of World Bank visited Cebu City and discussed with city officials the issues surrounding the road sharing and dedicated lane for the BRT project.
Villarete said World Bank officials presented cases in other cities where mixed-traffic BRTs were started as extensions of the fully-segregated corridors like the Ayala to Talamban, which is identified to be an extension on the original route from Bulacao to Ayala.
He said there is nothing wrong in implementing the original scope of the project first and expanding it later by implementing the dedicated lane along the Ayala to Talamban corridor.
For his part, Osmeña said he has “mixed feelings” about the stand of DOTr to implement the project as planned since he wants to have a dedicated lane rather than road sharing along the Ayala to Talamban corridor.
“I have mixed feelings about that pero sige nalang, dili lang ko mangita og away. I think it should be dedicated. Basta they will push through with it. Maybe it's not dedicated, maybe it is basta in the future, it will be dedicated,” Osmeña said.
The city has started acquiring the road-rightof-way from owners of properties along the route.
Once the BRT system is in place, buses will traverse the city's major thoroughfares such as N. Bacalso Avenue, South Road Properties, Osmeña Boulevard, N. Escario Street and Governor Cuenco Avenue.
The P16.3 billion BRT project is targeted to be operational in 2021.