Thursday, February 07, 2008 WB experts study bus system for BanTal
WORLD Bank traffic experts are in Cebu City today to study the possibility of implementing a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the Banilad-Talamban area and to design an “internal transportation system for the entire South Road Properties (SRP).”
Mayor Tomas Osmeña had just attended a two-day World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) seminar on public transport in Manila.
With him were City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, City Council committee on transportation chairman; engineer Paul Villarete, City Planning and Development Office head; and City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive officer Arnel Tancinco.
Study
The mayor said they invited three seminar speakers to come to Cebu City and make the study through a World Bank and ADB grant.
“They want to get the real situation on the ground and discuss with us existing data available, and see the sites and make actual evaluation and make recommendations on what to do next,” Villarete said.
The mayor said that after coming here “for the initial exposure,” the experts intend to return for the study, which would be comprehensive “to the last engineering detail,” and make surveys and consultations.
The World Bank and the ADB Bank are helping developing countries shift to a BRT system.
And the City is considering as pilot site the Banilad-Talamban area, where a flyover is being built along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave, specifically from the junction of J. Panis St. and beyond the A.S. Fortuna St. intersection.
Yesterday, the Citom asked WTG Construction and Development Corp. to be the one to shoulder the overtime pays of traffic enforcers who helped keep traffic in the area as smooth as possible.
This, after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it already paid P1.5 million to the flyover contractor for traffic management.
It is the Citom, which deployed personnel and tapped barangay tanods, that maintains traffic flow in Banilad.
More signage
In yesterday’s meeting, the Citom board also asked that WTG comes up with additional billboards and signage warning motorists of the construction, which will be finished in six months.
And while the flyover is being built to help ease traffic congestion in Banilad, Villarete said the BRT system is a major solution to the problem.
One approach to solving traffic is to decrease the number of vehicles by increasing the number of passengers per vehicle, which could be done through the BRT.
If the system gets approved, the BRT will be ready within three years.
According to a USAID study, the BRT was proven effective in Curitiba, Brazil and in Quito, Ecuador. At least 15 Asian cities have adopted the system.
It works like the train system but uses buses instead of train coaches and bus lanes instead of train tracks. It is also cheaper to operate.
The buses are stairless and passengers pay at the specially designed bus stops.
As in Curitiba, there will be lanes that will be dedicated solely for the buses. The Curitiba BRT uses up to five bi-articulate buses connected by bolts. (RHM)
