One cannot design transport without first knowing the type of city you want! Transport is a political decision: How much space do we want to give to cars and how much to people? Engineers will tell you how many cars can travel on a given road, but you have to decide as a community how many cars you want to have. If we have made more space for cars, it follows that there would be more cars. So ultimately it boils down to politics and the will of the community. In Cebu, city planners and officials are on a great debate on what mode of transportation the city should adopt. LRT or BRT?
Here are some points on why LaagCebu.com supports the BRT plan.
Accoding to Wikipedia Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems that use buses to provide a service that is of a higher speed than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling. It is a transport system with its onw right of way. The goal of this system is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings of bus transit.
BRT System
Why BRT?
- When operating in exclusive running ways or dedicated lanes, BRT systems can run at faster speeds than conventional buses in regular traffic and even as fast as light rail. By offering frequent service and avoiding traffic-related delays, BRT systems can provide riders with a more reliable travel time.
- Minimum transfers from one mode of transportation to another. BRT is highly accessasble since it will follow same route with the typical jeepneys in the city right now.
- Lesser amount of investment is required. This means that the BRT is more feasible and practical.
- Faster implementation since no major road construction required instead roads will just be widened and rails be set up.
- Through the use of clean and alternative fuel vehicles and the reduction in automobile traffic and congestion, BRT systems can help achieve air quality and other environmental goals.
- BRT is more flexible compared to LRT, routes maybe change anytime to cater large volumes of demands on certain places depending on the occasion and other contingencies.
- RT affords a great opportunity for tourist to view the city as if riding a bus. This is a more tourist friendly mode of transportation. BRT systems generally use rubber-tired, low-floor vehicles with wide doorways and aisles that are easy to board and comfortable to ride, most BRT vehicles are designed to provide premium seating and amenities while enjoying the view a city could offer.
- Cleaner roads. Road maintenance is not duplicated.
- Provides opportunities to build better sidewalks and pedestrian areas that will improve the life of the commuting public. A good city is not malls but public space and parks not parking lots. Parking is not a constitutional right. A good city should have places for people to walk and to be with other people. It should give people the needed spaces to play and should not make some people feel inferior.
LRT System
Why not LRT?
- My experience in Manila is that boarding an LRT is tedious and inconvenient especially to the PWD and the advanced in age. LRT Stations are usually 50 to 100 steps above the road with no elevators. Passengers will have to climb stairs and hurdle a steep walk to reach to the ticket booth and ride the train. For PWD’s and grannys to ride the train is almost impossible.
- After an LRT ride one will have to take another mode of transportation like a taxi or a jeepney in order to reach to his specific destination.
- Currently, study shows that passenger volume in metro Cebu cities could not sustain maintenance of the LRT. Local government may have to allocate budget for its maintenance.
- Talisay City to Mandaue City is so short a route for an LRT. This mode of transportation is designed for distant destinations and long trips. LRT speed and convenience is more appreciable on those kinds of trips.
- LRT does not solve traffic jam problems. In Metro Manila alone, LRT, MRTI and MRTII proved to be inutile in solving traffic problem.
Bryan Karl
9 months ago
Even though I really want the LRT, for Cebu, I’d go for BRT.
simoncpu
9 months ago
I want LRT + BRT.
BRT for short-term and LRT for long-term.
LRT can be set up underground and can be connected to major malls and establishment in the city. The BRT can serve peripheral routes from the drop off points and replace jeepneys.
simoncpu
9 months ago
It’s a good investment that would stimulate economic development not just in Cebu City but in the entire Cebu province as well. Kung naa na LRT, Mopalit jud ko ug house nga duol sa beach bisan ako office naa sa Cebu City… =)
I agree that we should build BRT first. The need for LRT will become very clear once passengers get accustomed to long commutes.
admin
9 months ago
@simoncpu – that is the ideal scenario. I am for it. However the BIG QUESTION is “can we afford that”? for now we are constrained to take baby steps for our future. Maybe we should build BRT first and later LRT if passenger volume is increased.
admin
9 months ago
@simoncpu – that is the whole point of introducing mass transport. it can be made an agent of spreading wealth on neighboring municipalities. But with the current plan of LRT it seems that it is very limited only to the 3 cities which already enjoyed the lion share of the development of Cebu. If we have to spread out wealth we have to expand the reach of our fast mass transport not only within the 3 metro cities but also as far as carcar in the south and danao in the north. That is real investment for the future and not just for election purposes.
batang buotan
9 months ago
I support BRT system. And my support is rooted to my desire to make Cebu LIVABLE.
Our city is vehicle friendly city. Would you agree? If our city is people friendly, we should feel safe when we use our roads. Before, roads are built for people, now, roads are built for cars. These ideals of urban planning was replicated from most US cities. Manila is cloning those cities. Are we cloning Manila?
BRT system would help us to re-engineer our urban planning with the ultimate goal of making Cebu, a livable city. Try to view some videos of living in urban Manila, of living in Bogota. And tell yourself which is livable city. The case of TransMilenio will tell us how a metropolitan area almost similar to Metro Cebu was transformed into a livable urban place.
Winston
9 months ago
I think BRT is more suitable for Cebu.
The ratio between distance and cost is too high for an LRT/MRT system as compared to that of a BRT. and BRT is much easier to implement 
admin
9 months ago
@Winston – costwise BRT is more attainable and practicable. BRT is perfect for lakwatseros
Vanjohnn
8 months ago
a good point there. I strongly agree on BRT. It’s far more practical to have BRT.
But wouldn’t it be cool if we had an LRT all the way to BOHOL? *dreaming*
Paul
6 months ago
Just like @simoncpu, I like LRT + BRT system.
Cebu City is already lively and who wouldn’t want to make Cebu more LIVELY?!?!
Just like you guys being excited. I would like to see the prototype of the BRT System applied in Cebu City.
Great article Atty!!
Archie
6 months ago
Dili ta magbinugo beh…
Both modes of transport can be applied. In fact, they will very well complement each other.
You see, the proposed, and long overdue by decades, LRT/MRT, which is similar to that of Kuala Lumpur’s will traverse the North-South axis.
So, how about areas around Cebu City, Tomas’ turf, nga dili maserbisyuhan? Like the East-West axis, or other areas that badly need mass transport but not covered by LRT’s route? Say, Talamban-Banilad-CBP-Mabolo-NRA-SRP?
That is where, Tomas’ baby comes in.
And no one will complain from outside Cebu City kay dili man kaha sila i-apil. So, Tomas can go on, and the LRT-MRT can go on too.
Ang pace sa growth sa Cebu dili kaya ug usa ra, so dapat duha.
Di ko kasabot nganong ilalis man nang duha, nga pwede man unta mu-complement each other?
Ana jud siguro mga Pinoy, ngita pirmi lalis maski naa na sa ilong ang duha ka solusyon, gubuton pa jud.
Simple di ba? Implement both so that they complement each other.
Pila man diay ka LRT/MRT lines naa sa Manila? Di ba daghan man? Kanang LRT1 nga gikan Monumento to Baclaran; LRT2 nga along Aurora Blvd; and MRT3 nga along EDSA (circumferential). In that way, covered ang more thoroughfares. Lisod ba na huna-hunaon?
Rails and Buses need not compete. In ten years time, kung usa ra anang duha ang ma-implement kay daghan kaayong tawo nga gubot ug utok, makahibalo ra niya ta…
And kanang imong giingon nga based on experience sa Manila’s LRT, that’s not a reliable comparison. We can always improve and learn from their mistakes. And if we do not learn, maski BRT pa nga gipaburan nimo, mauli gihapong basura na. Na-engganyo ra kaayo ka sa picture. Wala ba ka kita’g nindot nga picture sa mga LRTs sa ubang tarong nga nasud?
Lastly, think twice. Tagpila na diesel karon? Or even natural gas?
But electricity? It’s price is bound to go down sooner. ASEAN is moving towards the cleaner nuclear power generation. And we were supposed to be ahead of the flock, kung dili lang pud tungod sa mga similar-minded to those kontra sa Rails.
Ethelbert
6 months ago
@Archie – first, wlay nagbinugo diri. We are just exchanging opinions.. yours is just as good as the others and mine.
1. Yes, I agree both modes of transpo will very well complement each other that is if they are implemented to complement each other.
2. It is unfortunate that you were not updated as to what was the proposed plan for LRT. It was planned not to traverse areas from the north and south of cebu but only within metro cebu. In fact, it was my proposal (read comments) that it should have been done to connect the municipalities and cities outside metro cebu. But records would show that there is not enough demand for this kind of transpo in the suburbs..
3. I understand that Cebu’s economy is flourishing.. Projections for bullish growth is consequential but it doesnt necessarily follow that we need to implement both immediately. While both are desirable we are constrained with the budget and maintenance for these project. We dont want to end up feeding a white elephant.
4. Debate is good Sir. It is by debating on very important issues like the one at hand that we enjoy democracy at its fullest. Debate is an instrument that fans the amber of truth.
5. About my experience in Manila, i specifically brought it up so that we will learn from it.. Based on their plan it seems that learning on this area is not incorporated.
6. Nuclear power plant debate deserves a new post. But for you to know, you have an ally in me in fighting in favor of nuclear power. But until that is not realized, natural gas and other bio desiel fuel remain to be the best alternative.
Sir, thank you for positing your thoughts. I am glad to hear your opinions, i may not agree on some of them but i shall fight for your right to express that one.