Council okays BRT draft proposal

The final draft of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) proposal was approved by the Cebu City Council in its regular session yesterday.

The final BRT draft proposal was presented to the council last Wednesday, Aug. 22.

BRT project coordinator Rafael Christopher Yap asked for the passage of a resolution that would approve the proposal.

“With the approval, Cebu City is fully committed to meet the BRT project. That’s a very significant milestone for Cebu City,” Yap said.

The final draft report is a more detailed pre-feasibility study of the BRT project, he added.

The pre-feasibility study began two years and was done by the Integrated Transport Planning Ltd., hired consultants of World Bank.

BRT lead consultant Colin Brader said he’s “extremely pleased” about the council’s approval.

“It is a significant step forward and marks the end of the planning phase and start of the scheme implementation phase. It will place Cebu at the forefront of BRT development and would allow the city to grow,” Brader said.

Councilor Nida Cabrera said the BRT project will “greatly help reduce the city’s pollution.”

The technical working group of the BRT project will send a copy of the council’s resolution to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Brader said they will already appoint detailed engineering design consultants for the road, station and terminal works.

Yap said consultations are still ongoing “because we understand that BRT will affect certain groups.”

Among them are the passenger jeepney operators and drivers, who voiced concern on the project.

Brader said they will consult them in order to address their concerns and needs.

The feasibility study team will also finalize the loan agreement between the World Bank or the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) or French Development Agency and national government for the BRT project.

Detailed engineering designs will commence this November or December, Yap said.

Brader said the engineering designs of the buses are programmed for completion on June 2013. The buses are expected to be operational by 2015. Correspondent Tweeny M. Malinao