DOTr wants to scrap bus rapid transit project

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants to withdraw the multi-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, as it is no longer the solution to traffic problems in Manila and in Cebu, an official said yesterday.

DOTr Undersecretary for roads Tim Orbos said they asked the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) not to push through with the BRT project after they found another solution to the traffic problem.

Under the proposal, the DOTr was supposedly to build the BRT Line 1 from Quezon Memorial Circle to Manila City Hall via Elliptical Road, Quezon Avenue and España Boulevard and the BRT Line 2 or the EDSA BRT.

The BRT Line 1 has an estimated cost of P4.8 billion while the EDSA BRT has an allotted budget of P37.8 billion.

Orbos said the decision to scrap the Metro Manila BRT is based on the study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which claimed that it is no longer the solution to traffic in the metropolis.

He said that the ADB wants the DOTr to strengthen the Metro Rail Transit-3 for EDSA instead of pushing through with the BRT project.

For Cebu, Orbos said that the BRT is not suitable because of the narrow city roads and because of the right-of-way issues in Talamban, Cebu City where the project will be constructed.