6.01.2009

here we go





This from the Manila Times: BRT in the Philippines to cost Php55B for 426 kilometers. (That seems a little pricey to me but at least the idea has found legs.)

Moreso, pilot routes are in the works. I hope they do it right.

The Transportation department is planning to have two pilot routesthe 21-km C-5 (South Luzon Expressway-Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City) route and the 24-km Edsa-Binangonan (Rizal) routewhich will cost a total of over P6 billion.

The C-5 BRT will have 16 stations while the Edsa-Binangonan BRT, 18 stations.

The estimated cost per kilometer in the construction of the Edsa-Binangonan pilot corridor is P139.07 million and of the C-5, P129.33 million.

The two pilot routes were chosen from 11 potential BRT corridors.

NEDA cited the positive impacts of the BRT system in Bogota, including high level of service at low cost, less boarding time, equal-opportunity access, safety, reduction in some pollutants, efficiency and customer satisfaction, all achieved at a fare of $0.40 and not requiring any subsidies.

The BRT system in Bogot can handle 40,000 passengers per hour.

NEDA said that pedestrian spaces and bike paths will complement the proposed BRT system in the Philippines.

7 comments:

Pon said...

they've already begun with "bus rapid transit" painted on the sidewalk curbs on EDSA. hehe. when i saw that i was wondering if they were planning something or they're just calling what they have now bus rapid transit.

Lillian said...

i try to go home every year benjie. i noticed that every year, they are trying out a 'new thing' to decongest the traffic jams. there are more bikers on the streets, especially in C5 and is a cause of concern. the addition of bike lanes is great. the UP mountainers are renting out bikes to UP Students in Diliman and they have a designated bike lane in the academic oval. on the weekends, the academic oval is a big park, off limits to motorized vehicles.

Anonymous said...

Hey there,
You are probably busy these days. I was hoping you'd make a commentary about urban planning solutions post Ondoy.


The Marikina mayor sparked some ideas, albeit short term.

Mayor cites some ‘hard lessons’ for Marikina

No more excuses and favors

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:12:00 10/08/2009

MANILA, Philippines—As the struggle goes on to restore normalcy in flood-devastated Marikina City, Mayor Marides Fernando has learned some “hard lessons.”

Lesson No. 1: No more excuses and favors for riverside squatters living in danger zones.

“This time around we’ll be very strict. I think now people have no reason to resist when we ask them to move out of these hazard areas,” she told the Inquirer on Tuesday.


MY COMMENT -what is their criteria for hazard areas? What are the procedures of strictness? they can't just go on a power trip.


Lesson No. 2: There should be a minimum height standard for the construction of residential and commercial buildings, depending on how elevated the place is.

This, Fernando said, would help prevent cases of people drowning inside their homes.


MY COMMENT-so no more bungalows?
are we going to have our own Venice and prepare the city for sinking?

Lesson No. 3: Policies against illegal parking will be more firmly observed.

“Even just one car blocking the road can impede rescue workers from reaching their destination,” she said.


COMMENT: they won't have this problem if there is not flooding.
fix the sewers!

Lesson No. 4: More rubber boats and rescue equipment should be in stock for emergency situations.

“The rescuers had to scramble for equipment so we need more of these prepared,” Fernando said.


COMMENT: are we really going to accept that there will be floods?
and everytime there's a typhoon we will have to brace our rubber boats.

Losses could reach P10B


COMMENT- aha! there's the catch!
where will they reimburse the P10B.

The mayor said the city government would more thoroughly reflect on these lessons learned in the coming days in order to deal with catastrophes similar to that brought by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana) on Sept. 26.


COMMENT: bright idea anyone?

“All our efforts are still focused on the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the affected families,” she said.


COMMENT: people need to back to their homes.

Of the 300 deaths, 67 were from the Marikina area.

Fernando estimated property losses could reach as high as P10 billion. “Ondoy wrecked barges, footbridges, computer equipment at City Hall, medical equipment in hospitals.”

COMMENT: I just hope this doesn't justify the portion of city budget that they'll be filing.


She said some 2,000 people remained in about 10 evacuation centers. Officials had moved them from schools to barangay halls so classes could resume.

Some 1,000 residing in riverside communities would have to be relocated, possibly in Biñan, Laguna, said the wife of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando, who as a mayor developed the backward town into thriving city. [Biñan is the worst hit among the lakeshore towns in Laguna; see banner story on Page A1-Ed.]

Gargantuan task

Marikina Rep. Del de Guzman said those living at “Riverside A and B” in Barangay Fortune would be better off moving elsewhere.

“I don’t have the power, but I could convince them not to return there,” he said.

Most of the city’s efforts are directed at cleaning muck and debris.

Fernando said workers were using a city property at Barangay Nangka as a temporary dump for garbage, mostly beds, wood scraps, couches and sofa beds, and even appliances like refrigerators damaged beyond repair.

The task is nothing less than gargantuan. “Garbage collected in every four houses is equivalent to one dump truck,” Fernando said. With a report from Leila B. Salaverria

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091008-228950/Mayor-cites-some-hard-lessons-for-Marikina#

Cebu city said...

what is brt?

can we exchange links?

Unknown said...

I just want a single mass transportation system for the country to avoid heavy traffic in roads (note: PUJ, buses)

My Stupid Mouth
http://ervinang.blogspot.com

Fred Gohlke said...

Urbano,

How did we lose touch?

I've just had the privilege of reading (again), The Design of our Democracy, and, again, I'm impressed with your insights.

I'm nearly 84 years old now, and would like to talk to you again, if it's convenient.

fredgohlke@verizon.net

In any event, I hope things are well with you.

Fred

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