BRT vs LRT

By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon (The Freeman) Updated January 02, 2010 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - The idea for a Light Rail Transit System (LRT) to connect major cities in Metro Cebu created a significant amount of excitement two months ago, but the excitement slumped even before the idea can fully take off after Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña snubbed the proposal for being “anti-poor”.

The mayor, who is pushing for the Bus Rapid Transit System for Metro Cebu, argued that unlike the BRT, the poor cannot afford the LRT because of its costly fare.

Osmeña further said that unlike the BRT, the LRT will not spur industrialization because it is incapable of carrying cargoes, thus, factories and the urban poor will not be dispersed.

The mayor, likewise, strongly questioned the source of funding for the LRT, expressing fears that it might affect the city’s future loans for the BRT project. He described the Department of Transportation and Communication a “lousy urban planner.”

Guiling Mamondiong, DOTC undersecretary for railways, tried to assure Osmeña that the LRT and BRT will not compete with, but instead complement each other. He said fare for the Metro Cebu Mass Transit System would only cost P15 upon boarding and an additional .50 centavos for every kilometer thereafter.

Mamondiong explained that the LRT-MRT railways will be in an elevated platform and will not add to the traffic problem below. BRT buses, on the other hand, can traverse their own designated routes and transport passengers who will disembark from the LRT-MRT trains.

Despite the assurance, however, Osmeña’s stand remains firm.

The BRT

In 2008, Countries like Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States pledged over $6.1 billion for the clean technology fund intended to support actions to combat climate change in developing countries.

The adoption of a BRT, along with advanced vehicle technology, motor vehicle inspection and emission systems, and urban rail, was identified for funding with the CTF to reduce green house gas emission.

Cebu City Planning and Development Coordinator Nigel Paul Villarete said the city is now applying for a loan from the $250 million grant that the Philippines received from the Clean Technology Fund provided by the Asian Development Bank and World Bank in mitigating climate change.

Former undersecretary George Esguerra, now consultant of the Department of Transportation and Communication, said the loan is zero interest and is payable within 30 years.

Osmeña’s BRT system is similar to a light rail transit only that it uses buses instead of train coaches and a dedicated lane instead of rail tracks. It is considered a more cost-efficient mass transport system since it costs less to set up and is cheaper to operate and maintain. Buses are said to be of higher speed than an ordinary bus line.

The goal of a BRT system - service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings of bus transit.

The BRT is mainly used in North America, in Europe and Australia. The first BRT system in the world was first implemented in Curitiba.

Among the benefits cited of the BRT system includes increased in ridership, reduced vehicle emissions, improved reliability, improved customer satisfaction.

Villarete said earlier the six-month study of DOTC on the BRT covers not only Cebu City, but also Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and even Talisay City.

City officials envisioned that by 2012, Cebu City will have a fully operational BRT line from Barangay Talamban in the north to Barangay Bulacao in the south, where the light railway transit-mono rail transit will not operate.

Foreign consultants from the Integrated Transport Planning firm have identified the 15-kilometer BRT route with a project cost estimated at up to P6 billion.

The LRT

The first phase of the proposed LRT system would cover the construction of a 19-kilometer modern railway network that would link Talisay City to Cebu City and Mandaue City. The first phase alone would cost $603 million.

Johnny Ramos of AMA Group Holdings Corporation, the proponent of the project, said the 19-kilometer railway would also link 19 stations, which will be located in Tabunok and Bulacao in Talisay City; Pardo, Cabreros, C. Padilla, Cebu Institute of Technology, V. Rama, South Bus Terminal, Cebu Normal University, Osmeña Circle, Capitol, Gorordo, Ayala Center, J. Luna, SM City, and North Bus Terminal in Cebu City; and Tipolo, Quezon and Super Metro Mandaue in Mandaue City.

Phase two of the project would extend the 19-kilometer railway down to Dalaguete town in the south while the third phase would extend the railway up to Sogod town in the north.

Once the three phases are completed, the LRT would navigate about 70 kilometers of rail line. The system will be the country’s ninth and the first channel outside Metro Manila.

Proponents of the project said the rail- based mass transit system is intended to provide a high capacity, fast and reliable public transport system for Metro Cebu.

The Regional Development Council 7 had endorsed the project to the national government. The RDC is chaired by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Osmeña’s political foe.

Before the project can be implemented, however, it needs to be endorsed by Talisay City, Cebu City, and Mandaue City to the National Economic Development Authority.

Ramos said considering that 95 percent of anticipated commuters would come from Cebu City, the project will not see the light of day if it fails to get a favorable endorsement from the Cebu City government.

Ramos also dispelled Osmeña’s theory that the multi-billion budget for the LRT might just be used to fund the campaign of the administration’s candidates in the 2010 polls.

“That is not true. That is just his speculations,” Mamondiong said.

Mamondiong said they will explore all possibilities to have project to get the project implemented, as no less than President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo reportedly wants to implement the LRT in Cebu before her term ends next year.

“The President wants this project to be implemented,” Mamondiong said.

In fact, the Cebu Railway Project Office would be reportedly inaugurated in Cebu, as a manifestation of Arroyo’s and DOTC’s determination to implement the project.

Mamondiong said that if “worst comes to worst,” DOTC will launch a signature campaign to get the Cebuanos’ pulse on the issue. The result of the campaign would then be forwarded to RDC 7.

Mamondiong said DOTC is optimistic that majority of the members of the RDC would rule in favor of the LRT.

Sentiments

First District Representative Eduardo Gullas and Second District Rep. Pablo Garcia, both supporters of the LRT, described Osmeña’s decision as a “sad day” for Cebu.

“Cebu City Mayor Osmeña drove the nail to the coffin of the project. It is a sad day, however, for Metro Cebu and the Province of Cebu that Cebu City refuses to endorse the LRT-MRT,” Gullas said.

Gullas said Osmeña’s decision has lost Cebu the opportunity to avail of a huge project from the national government.

“Because of the arrogance of power, we will surely lose the opportunity for Cebu’s progress and development,” Gullas said. He said the leaders of Cebu “should endeavor to establish a leadership of service and not a leadership of power.”

Garcia, on the other hand, said it might be best that Cebu City will be “over-passed or be by-passed” if it would not yield for an endorsement.

Meanwhile, Sixth District Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz, also a supporter of the LRT, contended that “Cebu is not Cebu City” and the idea of having the LRT and BRT complementing each should be explored.

“I believe no one has the monopoly of correct solutions. That’s why we have to listen to each other. After all, we all desire to address the serious traffic congestion in Metro Cebu and beyond,” Soon-Ruiz said.

“Let us not give up this project because this is for the benefit of the Cebuanos,” Soon-Ruiz said.

For his part, Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar said it would be better to wait for the completion of DOTC’s study on the BRT before determining which among the LRT and BRT is indeed the better alternative.

For now, he said, the LRT project should be put on hold pending an endorsement from Cebu City.

Del Mar is a known political ally of Osmeña.

“So, let’s wait for the study on the BRT to be completed and see if it will be a better alternative,” he said.

Del Mar himself is pushing for the LRT-MRT and BRT mass transport systems, whichever is appropriate for Metro Cebu, through House Bill 432.

The bill is pending at the Committee on Transportation at the House of Representatives.— /JMO (THE FREEMAN)