DOTr pushing for Quezon Avenue-España busway

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to install a bus lane along Quezon Avenue and España, for the benefit of students and other commuters.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, during a forum hosted by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP), said they were undertaking a feasibility study for the 15-kilometer busway.

“The most viable and the most needed is España to Quezon Avenue. That is very important,” he said.

Government will take the lead in building the bus stations. However, the operations and maintenance would be open for bidding to private sector proponents, added Dizon.

Currently, the EDSA Busway, with 24 stations, has been the most effective mass public transport system in the metropolis.

It traverses Monumento, Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, Kaingin, Roosevelt, SM North Edsa, North Avenue, Philam QC, Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, Nepa Q-Mart, Main Avenue, Santolan-Annapolis, Ortigas, Guadalupe, Buendia, Tramo, Taft Avenue and Roxas Boulevard, among others.

On average, the EDSA busway is used exclusively by more than 300 buses, transporting approximately 200,000 passengers daily.

Government plans to privatize the operations and maintenance of the EDSA Busway.

In line with this project, the DOTr secured a P16.3-million grant fund from Swedfund International AB in February.

Swedfund will also help government in the planning and design of the busway project and provide expertise in sustainable transportation.

Outside Metro Manila, Dizon said government is also working on building other bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in other parts of the country.

In Metro Cebu, the Cebu BRT is currently under construction, spanning 13.8 kilometers from South Road Properties through Mambaling up to IT Park. The public transport system will have 17 bus stations, two terminals and one depot. It can service up to 160,000 passengers once fully operational.

Last January, Megawide Construction Corp. also won a P1.87-billion contract to construct the Cavite BRT which stretches for 42 kilometers across Imus, General Trias, Tanza, Kawit and Trece Martires, providing a link to Metro Manila. The project will include 37 stations and three terminals.