French firm brings ‘solutions basket’ for BRT project

A FRENCH technical support consultant hired by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is revalidating the detailed engineering design made by former Korean consultants for the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Cebu City.

Even though Kunhwa Engineering and Consultancy has already prepared a detailed engineering design for the BRT project in Cebu City, the French consultant will include the “basket of solutions” provided by the DoTr and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas such as providing an Integrated Inter-Modal Transport System (IITS) into the design, said Mark Richmund de Leon, DOTr undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure.

The inclusion of the IITS in BRT design will make way for the establishment of a Light Rail Transit (LRT), Mono Rail Transit (MRT), point-to-point bus system and Intelligent Transportation System.

“Kailangan i-revalidate ang assumptions, i-revalidate ang mga interconnections so that commuters will not be inconvenient in various transfer. Ayaw natin mangyari sa Manila, ayaw natin na ganoong sistema na hindi integrated ang LRT at MRT (We don’t want the same situation with Manila. We don’t want a system that the LRT and MRT are not integrated),” De Leon told reporters.

De Leon was in Cebu on Monday, Nov. 26, as one of the guest speakers of the DOTr’s launching of 22 new modern public utility vehicles.

De Leon admitted that even if the implementation of the P16.3-billion BRT project in Cebu was delayed, they want to make sure that it would be integrated into the IITS along with the BRT, MRT and Sky Train systems as a way to give convenience to commuters.

He said the French technical support consultant has experience in working with different LRT and BRT projects in other countries.

De Leon said that during the pre-feasibility study, the BRT project will be implemented phase by phase.

They also tasked the new technical support consultant to find major thoroughfares in Cebu City where such as the South Road Properties where they could start implementing the project’s first phase.

The 23-kilometer route of the BRT will start from Barangay Bulacao in Cebu City and will traverse Natalio Bacalso Avenue, South Road Properties, Osmeña Boulevard, N. Escario Street and Governor Cuenco Avenue.

If the design will be finalized by the first quarter of next year, construction of the BRT system’s infrastructure will start in the second quarter, de Leon added.

De Leon is set to meet with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 director Edgar Tabocon to discuss the road right of way (RROW) acquisition and widening of roads that will be part of the BRT project. (from SCG of SuperBalita Cebu & EOB)

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