Philippines First Bus Rapid Transit System For Cebu

[Dave Hounddriver]

After reading all the posts in this thread I am convinced that few of us have walked the streets of Cebu and watched the traffic.  Motorcycles and sometimes cars drive on sidewalks.  They drive the wrong way on one way streets.  They fill up all lanes (even the oncoming lanes) when they feel they are going too slow in the assigned lanes only. They drive through business parking lots to get around a bit of traffic.  They drive through blocked off construction zones that are marked no entry. They run over traffic wardens who get in the way (search Medic's posts for confirmation).  And during all this time there is little or no enforcement or repercussions for their actions.

 

And people want to believe they would not cross the median into the rapid transit lane?    :hystery:  :hystery:  :hystery:

 

Edit:  Forgot to mention one more interesting traffic habit.  The drivers do give way to ambulances that are screaming along with lights flashing and sirens blaring BUT they fight to get in behind the ambulance and ride on his bumper.  Maybe they will have enough respect for the rapid transit busses to let them go ahead and fight to get in behind those busses and ride on their bumpers.  Maybe!  :1 (103):

Edited October 7, 2014 by Dave Hounddriver

[Jollygoodfellow]

And people want to believe they would not cross the median into the rapid transit lane?          Edit:  Forgot to mention one more interesting traffic habit.  The drivers do give way to ambulances that are screaming along with lights flashing and sirens blaring BUT they fight to get in behind the ambulance and ride on his bumper.  Maybe they will have enough respect for the rapid transit busses to let them go ahead and fight to get in behind those busses and ride on their bumpers.  Maybe! 

 

Again, in most countries the lanes are fenced or concrete wall so hard to just drive on them for the general public.

[Americano]

 

And people want to believe they would not cross the median into the rapid transit lane?          Edit:  Forgot to mention one more interesting traffic habit.  The drivers do give way to ambulances that are screaming along with lights flashing and sirens blaring BUT they fight to get in behind the ambulance and ride on his bumper.  Maybe they will have enough respect for the rapid transit busses to let them go ahead and fight to get in behind those busses and ride on their bumpers.  Maybe! 

 

Again, in most countries the lanes are fenced or concrete wall so hard to just drive on them for the general public.

 

 

A large bus can get in the lanes but a small motorcycle or tricycles can't get in them?  That's hard to believe.

Cebu has lanes on the SRP that Public Utility Vehicles are not allowed to drive on but they drive on them anyway because there is no enforcement.  Do you think there will suddenly be a law enforced?  I believe that is wishful thinking when it comes to the Philippines.

Edited October 8, 2014 by Americano

[Dave Hounddriver]

A large bus can get in the lanes but a small motorcycle or tricycles can't get in them?  That's hard to believe.

 

I tend to agree that there is no way to isolate the bus lanes at every intersection and short of very extreme measures there will be many violators of the bus lanes.  But that does not mean it won't work.  Only time will tell when the benefits of a rapid transit bus system will start.  I have heard there is a rapid transit system in use in Manila and I have also heard it is so crowded that it is wise for foreigners to stay away.  Any comments on that from our Manila residents?

[Americano]

The first time I rode on what could be considered a BRT was when I went to Germany in 1978 while in the US Army the Germans had a very efficient bus system in some of the cities which had a main bus station in the center of the city where several buses would meet and then each one would depart at the same time on a specific route before coming back to the station.  All pickup points along the route were marked with a waiting area with a schedule of pickup times posted.  The buses would arrive and depart within the minute posted. They operated on a very strict time schedule. This was my main mode of transportation while stationed in Germany.  The only difference between their bus system and the BRT today is they didn't have BRT lanes only.  So to say we don't know what a BRT is is ridiculous when they have been around for a long time.  Maybe people who have only lived in the mountains, jungles, frozen tundra or a desert don't know what a BRT is but the rest of us do.

[i am bob]

The first time I rode on what could be considered a BRT was when I went to Germany in 1978 while in the US Army the Germans had a very efficient bus system in some of the cities which had a main bus station in the center of the city where several buses would meet and then each one would depart at the same time on a specific route before coming back to the station.  All pickup points along the route were marked with a waiting area with a schedule of pickup times posted.  The buses would arrive and depart within the minute posted. They operated on a very strict time schedule. This was my main mode of transportation while stationed in Germany.  The only difference between their bus system and the BRT today is they didn't have BRT lanes only.  So to say we don't know what a BRT is is ridiculous when they have been around for a long time.  Maybe people who have only lived in the mountains, jungles, frozen tundra or a desert don't know what a BRT is but the rest of us do.

 

When I was in Germany, Baden had a very similar system - it was their regular city bus system though.  Their BRT was a very different system.  If fact, what you just described is the city bus system for just about every city around the world I have been to.   I"m not trying to pick on you, it's just that there is a bit more difference than this to a BRT - the most basic difference being that the BRT is an express system over and above the normal city public conveyance.

[Dave Hounddriver]

 If the 'new improved' system happens in my lifetime then I am buying a round of beers for all forum members who can show up in Cebu for it..

 

Looks like I am not the only skeptic:

 

SEVERAL kinks need to be ironed out for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) to succeed, according to a Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) consultant on the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board.

 

Rene Santiago, a transport and traffic specialist, shared his insights after reading the project’s feasibility study prepared by the World Bank.

 

“I predict it to become an P11-billion failure, mainly for the institutional factors, less on technical aspects,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.

 

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2014/10/26/bumpy-ride-373088

[Americano]

"Santiago also said jeepneys and multicabs will have to be phased out to realize the premise of the CBRT’s exclusive operations on route."

 

"Some drivers may be absorbed as employees in the CBRT, he said. Others will be trained for new skills, while others will be assigned in another route."

 

And, others will seek revenge for taking their jobs and income away from them and their families.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Americano

[Jollygoodfellow]

Well it looks like all is moving ahead with the BRT.  :thumbsup:

 

Philippines's first Bus Rapid Transit system, in Cebu, gets P1.3B

 

MANILA - The country’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system will get P1.3 billion in funding next year, with the project seen completed by early 2018, Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. said over the weekend.

 

The allocation for the Cebu BRT project is among the items in the 2016 budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for motor vehicle traffic decongestion, according to Gullas, a member of the House committee on public works and highways.

 

“The funding will be used to put up the infrastructure as well as facilities required for the BRT, including the exclusive bus lanes and stations,” Gullas said.

 

“Part of the money will also be used to pay for the costs of right of way acquisition and detailed engineering design, among others,” he added.

 

With the funding, the lawmaker said the system should be on track for completion by the first quarter of 2018.

 

The project is patterned after tested BRT models in Seoul, South Korea and Guangzhou, China.

 

Outside Cebu, the DOTC has also allotted an initial P208 million next year for BRT systems in Metro Manila -- along EDSA and Quezon Avenue.

 

In April, the DOTC awarded the detailed engineering design and construction supervision contract for the Cebu BRT to South Korea’s Kunhwa Engineering & Consulting Co. Ltd.

 

As envisioned, the Cebu BRT will involve 176 buses running one after the other via 16 kilometers of segregated lanes from Barangay Bulacao Pardo in Cebu City’s south district to Barangay Talamban in the north district, with a link to the South Road Properties.

 

Each bus will run at an average speed of 26 kilometers per hour and drop by 33 stations, with a bus arriving at each station every five minutes. The private sector will operate the buses.

 

Once fully operational, the BRT is projected to serve some 330,000 passengers every day.

 

“We want the BRT to succeed in providing Cebuanos an easier public transport system, and in alleviating Metro Cebu’s traffic jams,” Gullas said.

 

“However, we also want the DOTC to push this early for an elevated light rail project, which is the best strategy to assure Cebuanos a truly fast and reliable mode of mass transport,” he said.

 

Gullas is author of House Bill 1338, which seeks to establish the Cebu Light Rail Transit System (LRT) for operation in Metro Cebu. The bill was first filed by his grandfather, former Rep. Eduardo Gullas, in the previous Congress.

 

The proposed overhead LRT would run between Talisay City and Mandaue City.

 

“An LRT system is the only way we can cope with future demand for a bigger mode of public transport, considering that Metro Cebu’s population is expected to hit five million by 2050. And it will take a long time to build the system, so the DOTC should get the planning started now,” Gullas said.

 

Due to overcrowding, he warned that Metro Cebu would find it increasingly difficult to move people and goods around in the years ahead.

 

“Since most of our thoroughfares can no longer be widened, the only option left is to put up an elevated LRT system, unless we can find a way to build new road tunnels underground,” he pointed out.

 

The fastest-growing urban center outside Metro Manila, Metro Cebu groups the seven cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Danao, Talisay, Naga and Carcar, plus the six municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Cordova, Minglanilla and San Fernando.

 

http://www.interaksyon.com/business/118765/philippiness-first-bus-rapid-transit-system-in-cebu-gets-p1-3b

[Dave Hounddriver]

“The funding will be used to put up the infrastructure as well as facilities required for the BRT, including the exclusive bus lanes and stations,” Gullas said.

 

I've got a bridge I can sell them.  I suspect they will be buying a few.  It is, however, refreshing that some still believe this will work.  My heart goes out to those believers as I hope they are right, but my head says a subway or elevated train is the only way to alleviate the congestion.  Just my humble opinion.