Walking, Cycling Lane Pushed for Cebu’s Mobility System

The Connective Cities Project Planning Workshop puts forward the transit-oriented development (TOD) as alternative to motorized transport system and seen as among the workable solutions to the growing population of Cebu’s metropolitan region.

Connective Cities Project, developed by the German Association of Cities and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), is eyeing towards the review of Cebu’s urban physical framework plan.

TOD is an integrated approach that includes regional spatial planning, city revitalization, non-motorized means of transport and walkable neighbourhood.

Under this approach, commercial districts and other major destinations will have no private vehicle parking areas but only access to mass transport. This will discourage private car owners as transferring people will be done through mass transport or by walking and cycling opportunities. Parking provisions in major destinations will also be removed.

By creating thick and walkable communities, it reduces the need for transport and energy consumption and help trim down the growing problem of climate change.

The common features of a TOD community include walkable districts (within 10-minute walk circles), bike networks and close proximity of offices, residence, retail and civic.

Colon Street, for example, will soon be afforded strictly to pedestrians. All motorized transport will only be up to Fuente Osmeña, M.J. Cuenco and Panganiban streets. These three transit barriers roads going to Colon will be lined with trees, shades and parallel bicycle lanes.

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III, who recently passed the province’s 3-year comprehensive development plan, said the workshop would provide more inputs that would help Cebu’s development agenda.

Davide, who chairs the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB), also said that the first-hand experience presented by German experts on approaches and proven solutions of TOD would greatly help local participants as they discuss issues in order to detect potential solutions.

“We would also have this opportunity to listen to successful stories and experiences from other countries so that we can emulate to make our province more inclusive and competitive,” Davide said.

Last week, Capitol presented its 3-year development plan that includes Greenway road that would help decongest traffic in Metro Cebu.

The Greenway link project, composed mostly of barangay access roads, will supplement the Trans-axial highway project, a 280- kilometer road that connects the northern and southern parts of Cebu.

Connective Cities initiators, German Association of Cities and Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) facilitated the workshop attended by more than 30 urban development practitioners and stakeholders from Cebu.

SOURCE: www.cebu.gov.ph