Is Traffic That Bad In Cebu That They Need Mass Transit?

[Guardian]

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/cebu-bizmen-favor-mass-transitIs there really a need for mass transit or will that end up costing us all more?CEBU CITY -- Business leaders favor adopting both a bus and rail-based transit system in Cebu, saying it is high time the island adopted mass transportation.It should be properly planned and mapped out, they added, so its economic benefits can be maximizedCebu City officials are pushing for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), while the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is studying a proposed Light Trail Transit-Mono Rail Transit system (LRT-MRT).

[Mik]

I thought they had mass transit - jeepneys. Light rail is for rich socialist countries where the government steals much of your money and calls it taxes..

[mike]

I just got back from Singapore and extensively used the MRT system there. Clean, fast and expanding all the time. No one is going to accuse Singapore of being a socilaist state. they would be right in accusing them of being a taxed state where public accountability for raising and spending taxes is very clear.I remember Singapore back when they struck out on their own, unrecognizable from today. Now is is easy to get around, no jeepneys, trisikads or diesel belchers. Bus stops that means what it says!! MRT in Singapore like the bus service is very cheap even by Singapore standards, where near everything else is horribly expensive.A good looped MRT system with connections to Mactan airport for both bridges are in my view inevitable. Trouble here is the forsight and foreplaning are rare commodoties. They do nothing until the problem has arrived!! then its too late! Bit like insurance, no one wants it until they need it and then its too late. get rid of the jeeneys and put more buses and MRT on the plans. Put the bus stops and MRT stops in the key malls, business parks etc and harbour areas. Make sure bus stops and MRT stops are integrated, so off one on to another!!Just takes planning, foresight and foreskin for politicians to get anything done when its for the public good as opposed to personal self interest.M

[Old55]

Cebu City and nearby cities would be much better off if Jeepnee

[Mr Lee]

If you told me that they wanted to install a mass transit system in Makati or any other city which had good roads, then I would think it would probably benefit the country and would no doubt be better than all those taxis jamming up the roads. There is no doubt in my mind that getting rid of the smoke belching pollution making jeepneys would be an upgrade for Cebu City but in the current Cebu City that I know, there would be few roads that those buses could run and even on those they would cause even more traffic jams, and while a rail system above the ground would be a great idea, that takes tons and tons of money and wouldn't it be better to first feed the people first before spending hundreds of billions on a mass transit system. What I would like to see is newer natural gas or battery powered jeepneys and with jeepney stops like bus stops and jeepney launching areas where they would have to sit without the engine running until they are at least half full before leaving their launching areas.I would also like to see more taxi stops where the taxis would have to sit with the engines off until they get a passenger and some control of how many taxis are actually needed because Cebu City has way too many taxis running around IMO, that is except in the rain and it seems that they then all hide. So first maybe fix the road of Cebu City and build in bus stop areas that jeepneys could use in the mean time and then think about mass transit.

Edited October 26, 2009 by Mr. Lee

[tropicalwaste]

Cebu had a railway that was destroyed by the Japanese in WW2. I also think it would be an ideal way to get some of the freight off the roads depending how it goes. Im all for anything that will improve the transportation in Cebu if it really will IMPROVE it. Time will tell

[Genius]

Compared to Manila, traffic is ok in cebu.If they spend Zero on the taxis but made them use the meter, that for me would be like spending a billion on a MTS.