Jerman Cheung
East Asia Press Office,Hong Kong
Arup has been appointed by the World Bank to develop a pilot Interim Bus Service (IBS) – a specific pilot corridor in Metro Manila. The study will lay the foundation for wider implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), providing a long-term solution to the road-based public transport issues in the area.
Manila is one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world. With some 9.3 million daily trips on public transport, its major corridors are often overloaded with old and poorly maintained vehicles, leading to substantial emissions and an unreliable and uncomfortable riding experience. Aggravating the lack of high-quality, high-capacity public transport service, the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to its transport system in terms of ridership and revenue, with service reduction along with social distancing measures causing major inconveniences to local commuters.
To address these existing and post-pandemic challenges, Arup will study the feasibility of a pilot IBS, helping develop a bus network corridor and service plan tailored to new travel behaviours during COVID-19, that can be integrated with future transport and urban development plans. The study will leverage video and data analytics, online surveys and other socially-distanced means of data capture to tailor plans to local conditions, while incorporating best practice during the pandemic to retain passengers.
In addition, we will build public support for high-quality bus services, create a new business model for bus operations and propose an institutional framework to facilitate integrated public transport. Ultimately, we aim to pave the way for more extensive BRT corridors in the Metro Manila area, mirroring the success of similar systems around the region and world.
