DOTC to award engineering design for BRT in January
Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is expected to award the contract for the detailed engineering design of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Cebu City in January next year.
“The DOTC told us they are on the stage of procurement for the detailed engineering design for the BRT.
The study can be awarded at the earliest by January next year,” said Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive director Rafael Yap.
Yap, recently appointed BRT czar by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, gave updates to reporters on last Friday’s meeting of the BRT Technical Working Group (TWG) at City Hall—the first meeting after two years.
DOTC Asst. Secretary Ildefonso Patdu Jr., was among those who attended last Friday’s BRT-TWG meeting.
Separate entity
Yap said the detailed engineering design will include specifics like the height of the bus platform, improvement of sidewalks and dealing with the Fuente Osmeña Circle, among others.
Yap said there are studies to be undertaken like the project’s social management impact on the drivers, operators and commuters as well as who will manage the project.
Based on the World Bank’s feasibility study on the BRT two years ago, Yap said they proposed a separate entity to manage the project. He said this will have to be decided by the DOTC.
After several years in development, the Cebu City BRT project picked up steam when the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) approved it.
The World Bank approved the US$ 141 million loan package for the project.
Personnel
Last Friday’s BRT-TWG meeting was attended by representatives of of the DOTC, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), NEDA, Department of Education (DepEd) and Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA). “At least we already know who are involved,” Yap said.
Citom will also set aside P12 million to hire job order personnel for the implementation of the BRT.
Yap said representatives of the Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) were also present during the meeting.
“They were appeased since we told them there’s also another transport system by SM that will address the south area,” Yap said.
The MLC earlier wrote Mayor Rama and proposed that the BRT route start from Bulacao, Pardo to P. Del Rosario, to Imus and MJ Cuenco, to MC Briones, ML Quezon and Talamban.
Yap said this route will spare Fuente Osmeña Circle and three flyovers and will cater to densely populated areas.
Franchise
The original BRT route will run from barangay Bulacao in the south to barangay Talamban in north Cebu City.
It will pass through the intersections of Osmeña Boulevard/Colon St., V. Rama Ave./ M. Velez St., MJ Cuenco Ave./J Luna Ave., and Gorordo Ave./Salinas Drive.
Yap said SM’s High Quality Public Transportation will address MLC’s concern for a route in densely populated areas.
“SM is already in talks with DOTC for the franchise of their own transportation. By February 2015, it’s expected to start,” Yap said.
The proposed route of SM’s project is from the SRP’s end in Minglanilla town down to the coastal area and to Plaza Independencia, North Reclamation Area (NRA), North Bus terminal, Cebu Doctors University and back.
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