Cebu BRT begins partial operations

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will begin partial operations on March 13.

Starting on Friday, three stations of the Cebu BRT, such as Fuente, Cebu Normal University, and Cebu South Bus Terminal stations, will be operational.

In June last year, the DoTr said that it targets to begin the partial operations of Cebu BRT by September, which has the potential to serve about 70,000 commuters.

The DoTr said previously that the construction of Cebu Capital station will also begin after partial operations, noting that its detailed engineering design has been finalized.

The remaining phases of the Cebu BRT, designated 2A and 3A, cover 13 stations and 62 stops, due for completion by the end of 2028.

The 35‑kilometer (km) Cebu BRT will feature a 17-km trunk service, 22 stations, 62 bus stops, four terminals, a depot, and 18 km of feeder services, which will connect the northern and southern ends of the trunk lines.

The government broke ground on the first package of the project in 2023. It was initially scheduled for full operations this year but was pushed back to 2028.

Once completed, the Cebu BRT system is expected to serve up to 169,000 passengers per day. — Ashley Erika O. Jose