JICA Cites Success Factors for Implementing Cebu’s P10.6 BRT System

(PNA) — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has identified in a study four “critical success factors” in implementing the P10.6-billion Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Cebu City.

The study commissioned by the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) said the existence of a strong political will at city level to champion the priority of BRT in allocating dedicated lanes and bus stops in the designated routes” is the first factor.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Executive Director Rafael Yap said there is plenty of political will in the City Government.

“There were many instances where the political will of the City was tested,” said Yap.

One show of political will, he said, is Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s re-blocking or widening of interior roads in some densely populated Cebu City barangays.

Yap said it would have been easy to cave in to the demands of the urban poor, which would make the administration more popular, but the re-blocking was implemented anyway.

Reblocking means that some residents would lose part of their homes.

Also, Rama and Yap’s stand against the proposed flyovers on Gorordo and MJ Cuenco Ave. in 2011 was instrumental in the deferment of the projects.

“We are not against flyovers, per se; we opposed those specific flyovers. In some areas, a flyover is a good traffic management solution,” said Yap.

This was in reaction to Jica’s study, which indicated that the construction of more flyovers or grade-separated interchanges is another factor in the success of the BRT.

These would “increase road capacities, not only for public transit, but also for other vehicles since the BRT route is designated on narrow roads such as the four-lane or six-lane carriageways,” the study read.

Another controversial factor identified by the study is the removal of jeepneys from the BRT route.

However, in the same study, Jica said that the BRT may not be able to serve all the passengers on N. Bacalso Ave.

In the study, Jica noted more than six jeepneys every minute on N. Bacalso Ave. This would translate to 5,400 passengers every hour.

“Even in the opening year, the BRT may not serve all the passengers to be shifted from public utility vehicles on N. Bacalso Ave.,” the study read.

While the BRT is designed to cater to 4,500 to 5,400 passengers, Jica said that based on the experiences of other cities with the BRT, only about 3,000 passengers per hour will be serviced.

But Yap said that this isn’t without a solution.

“We can add more buses or we can lessen the headway between buses,” Yap said.

The fourth success factor Jica noted is the willingness of adjacent local government units to expand BRT routes in their jurisdiction.

This factor sheds light on the proposed Metro Cebu Development Authority (MCDA), which provincial officials want revisited.

The MCDA’s creation was contained in a bill that Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) repeatedly filed in the House of Representatives, but did not get approved.

Jica also recommended the implementation of a light railway transit system by 2030.

“The BRT’s practical route length is 20 kilometers or so. In the case of Metro Cebu, there are more than 70 kilometers from Danao City to Carcar City. Obviously it’s too long for a BRT to serve,” the study read in part. (PNA) CTB/EB