Local officials welcome study on LRT for Metro Cebu

Some local officials have welcomed the impending conduct of a pre-feasibility study for a Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Metro Cebu.

Cebu City North District Representative Raul Del Mar said there is a need to complement the Bus Rapid Transit project with other infrastructures such as the LRT, underpasses, and skyways.

“That’s a welcome development. With the traffic problem that we have, the infrastructure needed is not only the BRT. We need to complement it with other interventions,” he told The FREEMAN by phone yesterday.

Del Mar argued that there should be no issue on which system Cebu should have – BRT or LRT – as one will complement the other.

Last Thursday, the Cebu City government through Mayor Tomas Osmeña and the Tranzen Group Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding for latter to conduct the study for an LRT system that will run from Talisay City to Cebu City to Mandaue City to Consolacion.

The 21-kilometer route LRT-Line 1 is envisioned to have 16 stations while the BRT’s first phase includes a 23-kilometer route with 25 locations for its stations.

Both BRT and LRT will traverse a common section of around six kilometers from Bulacao to Osmeña Boulevard via the Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

Del Mar said he appreciated Osmeña’s embrace of alternative modes of mass transport.

“He still welcomes LRT. He is not only for BRT exclusively. He knows that both projects will lessen the traffic problem and that there are other interventions like LRT which we need to complement the BRT,” the Cebuano lawmaker said.

Councilor Joel Garganera said the LRT is a long overdue project for Cebu City and neighboring cities.

The City Council approved the resolution authorizing Osmeña to sign the MOU with Tranzen on October 24 last year.

Garganera is hopeful that the result of the study will be presented to the city.

Tranzen already formed a technical cooperation with Shimizu Corporation, Japan and Oriental Consultants Global, Japanese and local firms to prepare an unsolicited proposal with prior study of LRT.

The feasibility study is eyed to be completed within one year.