The buses were ready, but the streets were not.
Cebu City has postponed the pilot run of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) system to October after test operations from September 17 to 19 revealed heavy congestion, incomplete infrastructure, and safety concerns.
The pilot, originally scheduled to begin Monday, September 29, was meant to cover Package 1 of the project, deploying Cebu Interim Bus System (Cibus) units on dedicated lanes from the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) along N. Bacalso Avenue to Fuente Osmeña Circle.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said the narrowing of three lanes to two near CSBT caused severe gridlock, an issue that earlier traffic studies failed to fully anticipate.
He also flagged protruding electrical wires and unfinished bollard and directional marker installations, calling on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and CBRT management to address them immediately.
“Ako ng gi-request nila nga limpyohan,” Archival said, referring to his request to clear station areas.
City officials added that missing safety infrastructure — including reflectorized bollards, signage, and proper traffic guidance — must be completed before the October relaunch.
Archival also stressed the need for strict enforcement of loading and unloading rules, noting that indiscriminate stops by buses could worsen congestion.
He ordered the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to deploy more personnel to guide motorists and expand its public information campaign about the new traffic scheme.
A Traffic Management Committee meeting on October 3 will finalize manpower deployment and enforcement strategies.
While Package 1 was designed to run between Jones Avenue and CSBT, Archival has proposed extending the test route from South Road Properties (SRP) to Ayala Center, passing through Il Corso, Vestil Street, Mambaling, the South Bus Terminal, and Jones Avenue.
He said the longer route reflects the project’s original plan, which envisioned a system spanning Bulacao to Talamban to ease commuting across Cebu City.
Public reaction to the test runs has been mixed. Some commuters welcomed shorter travel times, noting that Cibus units covered the CSBT–Fuente stretch in under five minutes using dedicated lanes.
Others complained that lane closures worsened traffic in mixed-use sections, creating bottlenecks.
The Cibus fleet assigned to the CBRT features air conditioning, closed-circuit cameras, and dashcams.
Each bus can seat 40 passengers and carry up to 80–90 more during peak hours. Once fully operational, services will run daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. at a base fare of ₱15 plus ₱2.65 per kilometer.
Cebu Business News
