THE government is studying the possibility of converting the youngest overhead train line in the Philippines into a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, given that spare parts and the acquisition of additional coaches have become a “burden” to the state.
Transportation Spokeman Cherie Mercado-Santos said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is reviewing the economic impact of such an option, but early studies show that converting the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 into a dedicated bus system would only cost the government a little.
“We are still early in studying phase. There are examples in other parts of the world where railways have been cemented to accommodate two lanes of buses running opposite ways,” she said.
Countries that have rail-replacement bus services include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“We are still weighing its advantages versus trains, which now burdens us with parts and light rail vehicle acquisitions, and maintenance among others,” Santos said. “We are studying if buses have faster headways, more passengers transported and less cost.”
The DOTr is also studying the possible effects of such a project, including its cost to the government.
“It won’t cost a lot in our superficial knowledge to cement and convert it to a BRT, but we also have to gauge advantages versus trains,” Santos said.
She added that cementing the tracks and deploying dedicated bus services along the overhead rail facility is just one possibility.
“We are also studying putting road on top of track, so if you wish to revert back to track, it’s still there,” the transportation official said.
The LRT 2 is a 13.8-kilometer mass transit line that traverses five cities in Metro Manila, namely, Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila, along the major thoroughfares of Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda and Recto Avenue.
It has 72 coaches or 18 train sets, of which 56 percent are operational, data from the transport department showed. Should the transport department move with the conversion, the fate of the 72 coaches may be placed in limbo, as train cars are calibrated to fit a specific track.
“We are also studying if the trains could be recalibrated for other tracks,” Santos noted.
The train line has a daily ridership of about 217,000 passengers, below its designed capacity of between 570,000 passengers per day.
Currently, the railway system is being extended to Masinag in Antipolo to the tune of P2.27 billion. It is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2017.
The extension of the country’s youngest overhead railway system is expected to cater to an additional 75,000 daily passengers living in densely populated areas of Rizal.
Aside from the construction of the eastward extension of the 12-year-old line, two other major contracts are up for bidding to further improve and modernize the LRT 2 system’s services.
An operations and maintenance contract is already in the procurement process, and is intended to provide riders with customer-oriented services and well-maintained facilities that enhance the over-all passenger experience. This is being done under the supervision of the Public-Private Partnership Center.
The government also plans to extend the train system to the west. The project, approved by the National Economic and Development Authority Board last year, will extend the line from its current end-station in Recto up to Pier 4 in the port area in Manila.
4 comments
The LRT-2 is the only descent rapid transit line in Metro Manila. Converting it to BRT is a sign or regress!
Agree
Durring the launch of the All-Filipino designed AGT (automated guideway transit) then DOST Secretary Montejo asserted that all roads, tollways and expressways can be constructed with AGTs. The AGT has been confined to Bicutan and UP Diliman since it was introduced by the Aquino Administration. It continues to be on an ‘experimental’ basis. Lamentable that we do have solutions to the traffic and pollution. The BRT was long proposed in 2011 in a study before the exit of the Arroyo government but was snubbed by Noynoy, et al. The LRT-2 does not have to be converted into a BRT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqBoR_WAfo8