DEVELOPER SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is a step closer to operating its own bus system to service four new routes to its new mall at the South Road Properties (SRP) by end of the year.
The Cebu City Council approved on Wednesday a resolution authorizing Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to sign a memorandum of agreement with SM Prime subsidiary Premier Southern Corp. (PSC) to build, operate and maintain the bus system.
Envisioned to operate in time for the opening of SM Seaside City, it may later connect with the planned Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, which is targeted to start operations in 2017.
Under the draft agreement with the city government, PSC will build eight bus stations and field 77 WiFi-equipped buses in four routes approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The new routes are: North Bus Terminal to Mambaling via SRP with 36 buses; North Bus Terminal to Talisay City via SRP with 22 buses; Talisay City to Mambaling via SRP with 11 buses; and
Talisay City to the Mactan Cebu International Airport via SRP with eight buses. The buses will enjoy priority on designated lanes.
“Once the stations and buses are there, permits will be approved, franchises will be approved. We can enjoy this kind of transportation. The target date for this is by December, hopefully,” said City Councilor Nestor Archival, transportation committee chairman.
Archival, who authored the resolution, said the city will help facilitate the documents for SM’s High Quality Public Transportation System.
STATIONS
The bus stations will be built at: Il Corso (mall), City di Mare residential section, N. Bacalso Ave. near the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT), N. Bacalso Ave. across CIT, inside SM Seaside City, inside SM City Cebu, near the Malacanang sa Sugbo, and at the side of the old Compania Maritima building.
Rafael Yap, head of the Cebu BRT Implementation Office, said SM plans to field some buses in time for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministers’ Meeting on October 8 – 10.
“We look forward to the launch of the SM HQPTS in order to demonstrate to Cebuanos good public transportation systems that are safe, comfortable and efficient. Also, HQPTS will serve as powerful proof of concept for the Cebu BRT project,” Yap said.
Proof of concept demonstrates the feasibility of a concept or verifies that a concept has the potential of being used.
The P10-billion project BRT, to be l be funded by the World Bank, was originally targeted to be operational this year but was approved only last year. Detailed engineering studies are still underway.
INCENTIVES
The yet-to-be-signed MOA between Cebu City and PSC for the SM bus system has a term that will last until December 31, 2022.
PSC will receive incentives for operating the bus system.
These are: real property tax exemption on the bus stations that will be constructed, rent-free use of city-owned land and tax credits or tax relief in the event that the Cebu BRT system will use the HQPTS stations outside of SM malls.
PSC is also requesting the city’s assistance in asking the BRT Implementation Office to install and upgrade the adaptive traffic light system in 14 intersections in the city.
The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will also assist the PSC in conducting public awareness campaigns.
The draft MOA also proposes the rehabilitation of the industrial road, widening of the Mambaling Road and implementation of drainage plans to mitigate flooding at the SRP.
PSC will ensure that each bus will have two closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, a Global Positioning System and wireless fidelity (WiFi).
The bus system will also use electronic cash-less ticketing and provide an operational passenger information system that would display real time bus schedules, next bus stop, estimated time remaining before reaching a bus stop and estimated time of arrival.
Each bus should also be BRT-ready with a Euro V Engine, total length of 10-18 meters, floor height of 270mm-610mm, two doors and space for the stowing of luggage especially for buses going to the airport.