Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System

File:Cebu BRT Route Diagram.jpg. A feeder route to Talamban in northern Cebu City was also included in the proposal.|left|260px]]

A bus rapid transit system for Cebu City was first proposed by former city mayor Tomas Osmeña in the 1990s, drawing inspiration from the Rede Integrada de Transporte in Curitiba, Brazil. However, it was only in 2010 when the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) began formal planning.Cris Evert Lato (18 September 2010). [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100918-292922/Cebu-City-awaits-bus-rapid-system "Cebu City awaits bus rapid system”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921131410/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100918-292922/Cebu-City-awaits-bus-rapid-system |date=2010-09-21 }}. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-09-27 The World Bank is supporting the scheme financially and technically through its Clean Technology Fund. The Philippine national government initially disapproved the project, but later it supported the project financially as then-Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III placed it as a priority project to purse, through a public-private partnership.Jessica Ann Pareja (26 October 2010). [https://archive.today/20120909103259/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=624372&publicationSubCategoryId=107 “BRT, MCIAA development among P.Noy’s top projects”]. The Freeman. Retrieved 2011-09-27 The former Mayor of Cebu City, Michael Rama, is also supportive of the plans and has formed two steering committees to advise on policies and provide technical expertise.Positive News Media (30 December 2010). [http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Mayor_Rama_forms_two_committees_for_proposed_BRT_system.shtml “Mayor Rama forms two committees for proposed BRT system”]. Retrieved 2011-01-27 The Cebu City Team is headed by former Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival, as the former Cebu BRT Project Development Officer, Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, transferred to Mactan–Cebu International Airport on 26 October 2010.Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (23 October 2010). [https://archive.today/20130131070138/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=623452&publicationSubCategoryId=107 "Archival to lead BRT team as Villarete heads to MCIA"]. The Freeman

A full feasibility study was commissioned by World Bank [http://www.itpworld.net/ Integrated Transport Planning Ltd] in September 2012. This study defined the infrastructure, stations, vehicles and operational plan as well as requirements for a citywide Area Traffic Control system and improvements to the urban realm.Integrated Transport Planning Ltd (2012). “Cebu BRT Feasibility Study". For World Bank. A large public consultation scheme was undertaken during this study which engaged directly with 5,000 Cebuanos as well as communication via newspapers, TV, radio and social media. After the feasibility study, areas affected by road right of way (RROW) or road widening were marked with varying measurements ranging from less than a meter to 13 meters. Those with BRT stations have larger RROWs. The RROW is also expected to displace many houses and establishments and remove more than 2,000 roadside trees.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

The Cebu BRT was formally approved by the Philippine National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on May 29, 2014.{{ cite news |last=Sabalo |first=Wenilyn B. |date=February 27, 2023 |title=Things to know about the Cebu BRT — the first in the country |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/491018/things-to-know-about-the-cebu-brt-the-first-in-the-country |work=CDN Digital |accessdate=March 3, 2023 }} The project was supposed to be funded by a {{Philippine peso}}10.6 billion ($228.5-million) funding package, consisting of a World Bank loan of $116 million ({{Philippine peso}}6.4 billion), $25 million from the World Bank Clean Technology Fund, and €50.89 million from the French Development Agency (AFD), with the balance to be provided by the Philippine government.{{ cite news |date=January 17, 2023 |title=WB loan for Cebu BRT set to expire by end-June |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2023/01/17/498783/wb-loan-for-cebu-brt-set-to-expire-by-end-june/ |work=BusinessWorld |accessdate=March 7, 2023 }} In 2017, the budget for the project was revised to {{Philippine peso}}16.3 billion, in accordance to Republic Act 10752, also known as "The Right-of-Way Act", meant to give just compensation to lot owners affected by the project.

The Cebu Interim Bus Service (CIBUS) (operated by Vallacar Transit) was launched in 2020 to provide a modern bus transport service to Cebu City, and was also aimed to mimic the Cebu BRT while it was still being formally planned and worked on. CIBUS runs largely the same route as the Cebu BRT, from South Road Properties to Cebu IT Park.{{ cite news |last=Erram |first=Morexette Marie B. |date=March 16, 2020 |title=CiBus launched, to accommodate 20 passengers for now |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/294475/cibus-launched-to-accommodate-20-passengers-for-now |work=CDN Digital |accessdate=March 7, 2023 }}

Following numerous delays since its supposed implementation in 2016, the Cebu BRT finally broke ground on February 27, 2023 in a ceremony attended by President Bongbong Marcos, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, and Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

{{routemap

| width = 270px

| float = right

|title = Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 Package 1

|legend = bus

|map =

uKBHFa\~~South Bus Terminal~~

uINT\~~Cebu Normal University~~

uINT\~~Fuente Circle~~

uHST\~~Capitol~~

|bottom = † Diagram not to scale}}

The Cebu BRT route consists of a main line spanning {{convert|13.18|km|mi|abbr=on}} of segregated lanes with 17 stations, one depot, and one trunk terminal from South Road Properties southern Cebu City to the Cebu IT Park northern Cebu City. The main line will traverse several important thoroughfares of Cebu City, including Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard, and N. Escario Street. A feeder line system with a total length of {{convert|22.1|km|mi|abbr=on}} will support the main line. The feeder lines will run over mixed traffic with priority for the buses, with two feeder terminals in Talisay and Talamban in northern Cebu City.

Upon completion, the Cebu BRT will traverse Cebu City and Talisay with a total of 76 bus stops across the system. There is also provision to extend the Cebu BRT system into the other cities and municipalities of the province of Cebu.

According to the Philippine Department of Transportation, the Cebu BRT can serve 60,000 passengers in a day for the first year of operations. Once the system is fully operational, the Cebu BRT system can cater a total of 160,000 passengers. For the first year of operation, 83 buses will ply the Cebu BRT routes, while a total of 144 buses will serve the system by 2038.

The original route for the Cebu BRT had {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} of segregated busways from Bulacao in southern Cebu City to Ayala Center Cebu, and a further {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} of bus priority at junctions to reach Talamban along Governor M. Cuenco Avenue.Philippines News Agency (8 June 2010). [http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=280243&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=BRT&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2010 "Cebu City wants national gov’t to spend for BRT implementation”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414202409/http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=280243&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=BRT&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2010 |date=2015-04-14 }}. Retrieved 2011-01-27 A spur line to the South Road Properties (SRP) was also part of the plan.Philippines News Agency (27 August 2010). [http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=297269&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=BRT&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2010 "Filinvest asks Ceby City government to finalize SRP utilities”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623112945/http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php |date=2011-06-23 }}. Retrieved 2011-01-27

The BRT station will be four meters wide and 83 meters long. The BRT first phase from Bulacao to Ayala will consist of 15 symmetric and asymmetric stations.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=City Hall unveils BRT terminal design |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/73113/city-hall-unveils-brt-unit-terminal-design |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}

TransCebu is the proposed name for the BRT line. Single deck non-articulated buses which hold between 85 and 110 passengers will be used. A running speed of 25 km/h is proposed with a peak frequency of 75 buses per hour on the core route. This operation is expected to carry 330,000 passengers each day.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-03 |title=City Hall unveils BRT terminal design |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/73113/city-hall-unveils-brt-unit-terminal-design |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} However, in 2023, the branding name CEBRT was revealed during the groundbreaking ceremony of the first phase.

Fares will likely be collected through the use of prepaid smart cards. The pre-feasibility assessment for the BRT route states that if the fares were charged at the same level as jeepneys, ticket revenues could reach US$15 million per year, of which US$1.5 million is expected to be the profit or surplus.

The pre-feasibility study estimates that in comparison to using jeepneys the BRT route will save passengers 570 million hours of travelling per year and will also be cheaper for the bus operators as BRT vehicles are cheaper to run than the existing jeepneys. The overall cost benefit ratio has been evaluated to be 2.45.

If the buses were to run on diesel then the route is estimated to save 9,655 tonnes of PM₁₀ emissions and 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions up to the year 2035. However the DOTC is also considering running the vehicles on LPG, biofuel, hybrid or electricity which will reduce emissions further.Philippines News Agency (22 October 2010). [http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=308341&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=BRT&andor=and&mdte_arch=0&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2010 "WB okays US$ 1M grant for Cebu City’s rapid bus transit feasibility study”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623112945/http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php |date=2011-06-23 }}. Retrieved 2011-01-28

The full BRT network for Metro Cebu could cover Talisay, Cebu City, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu City, the four largest cities of Metro Cebu. The Cebu BRT is also eyed to pass through the South Road Properties (SRP), and a direct connection to Mactan–Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is also a part of the plan in the near future. There could also be a BRT network at downtown Cebu especially at Colon Street.

The narrow roads of Cebu City has been a point of criticism for the project. Arizona State University professor Donald Webster claimed that a BRT system in Cebu was not viable due to the city's narrow roads, suggesting instead that the project should be reimagined as a light rail or heavy rail system that could be built above or below the roads.{{ cite news |last=Vestil |first=Justin K. |title=Canadian professor says BRT will not work in Cebu |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/88961/canadian-professor-says-brt-will-not-work-in-cebu |work=Sun.Star |date=June 27, 2016 |access-date=July 16, 2017 }}{{ cite news |last=Cuizon |first=Razel V. |title=Cebu City's BRT 'a likely failure' |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2017/07/01/cebu-citys-brt-likely-failure-550609 |work=Sun.Star |date=July 1, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 }} This sentiment was also shared by Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Diño, who stated that he would lobby to President Rodrigo Duterte to have the project scrapped in favor of a light rail transit system.{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Cebu City's BRT 'a likely failure' |work=SunStar Cebu |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/150734/cebu-citys-brt-a-likely-failure |access-date=July 31, 2022}}

On March 20, 2024, Mayor Michael Rama filed an administrative complaint before the Office of President and sought the suspension of Governor Gwen Garcia regarding the CBRT. “Garcia, by issuing the Assailed Memorandum, violated the Constitution, the Administrative Order 23, Series 1992, the Local Government Code, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act,” Rama alleged. Garcia issued a memorandum to stop the CBRT construction in heritage buffer zones of the Cebu Provincial Capitol and Fuente Osmeña Circle on February 27, 2024.{{cite news |last1= Piquero|first1=Pia |title=Rama asks Malacañang to suspend Gwen over CBRT dispute |url= https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/563722/rama-asks-malacanang-to-suspend-gwen-over-cbrt-dispute|accessdate=March 22, 2024 |publisher= Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 22, 2024}}{{cite news |last1= Cordova|first1= Calvin|title=Rama files administrative rap vs Garcia before Office of the President|url= https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/22/rama-files-administrative-rap-vs-garcia-before-office-of-the-president|accessdate=March 22, 2024 |publisher= Manila Bulletin|date=March 22, 2024}}

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{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101206040433/http://www.itdp.org/index.php/microsite/brt_planning_guide/ Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide] (available for download in pdf) Institute for Transportation & Development Policy
• [http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?ID=1698 Bus Rapid Transit, Volume 1: Case Studies in Bus Rapid Transit] Transportation Research Board
• [http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2264 Bus Rapid Transit, Volume 2: Implementation Guidelines] Transportation Research Board
• [http://www.nbrti.org/ The National BRT Institute]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120208051942/http://www.its.umn.edu/Research/ProjectDetail.html?id=2001046 BRT Technologies: Assisting Drivers Operating Buses on Road Shoulders]. University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, Department of Mechanical Engineering (December 2003).
• [http://www.gobrt.org Bus Rapid Transit Policy Center]
• [http://www.itdp.org Institute for Transportation and Development Policy]
• [http://www.brt.cl Across Latitudes and Cultures Bus Rapid Transit] An international Centre of Excellence for BRT development
• [http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2326 Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual] Transportation Research Board
• [http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/ The Climate Investment Funds] and the [http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/node/2/ Clean Technology Fund]

{{Transportation in the Philippines}}

Category:Transportation in Cebu

Category:Cebu City

Category:Bus rapid transit

Category:Proposed public transportation in the Philippines