Cebu's Bus Rapid Transit launch delayed due to traffic, infra issues

Back in July, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) would provide faster and more convenient travel to around 70,000 passengers, with its pilot run reportedly scheduled for September. Plagued by traffic woes and infrastructure setbacks, the long-delayed project has missed yet another target, its launch now pushed back to sometime in October.

The CBRT works similarly to the EDSA Busway, where high-capacity buses will utilize dedicated lanes to transport the commuting public faster and more efficiently.

Between September 17 and 19, test runs of the CBRT exposed serious flaws in the system. One glaring issue was traffic gridlock near the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), directly caused by the construction of the CBRT lane. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival pointed out that the project narrowed the road from three lanes down to just two, creating a bottleneck that worsened congestion instead of easing it.

Mayor Archival also flagged the absence of proper traffic signs and guidance along the CBRT route. He already requested the DOTr to immediately install reflectorized signage and bollards to clearly mark the new dedicated busway, stressing that without these measures, both motorists and commuters are left confused and at risk.

The city also noted that the very problem the BRT was designed to eliminate—traditional loading and unloading along the route—remains rampant. Mayor Archival stressed that these indiscriminate stops not only defeat the purpose of the system but also worsen traffic delays for other motorists. He called for the strict enforcement of designated bus stops to restore order and efficiency on the road.

The city government is set to convene a Traffic Management Committee meeting this week to finalize plans for the deployment of personnel, an intensified public information campaign, and the enforcement of new traffic rules tied to the CBRT. Once operational, the CBRT will run daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, serving passengers between South Road Properties and Cebu Business Park, with a base fare of PHP 15.00.