P1 Billion Bus Rapid Transit System To Be Constructed In Makati Business District

The Makati Commercial Estate Association (Macea), a group of Makati building owners, is optimistic that Duterte administration would this time approve its plan to develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system within the Makati central business district.

According to Architect William Coscoluella Macea, Vice President, they have submitted their build-operate-transfer (BOT) proposal and now awaiting the approval of Department of Transportation (DOTr) headed by Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“Our offered BRT can be a connection to the national government’s BRT plan in Metro Manila. The plan is okay with Secretary Tugade in principle, we might push it but get first approval with the national and local governments,” said Coscoluella, during the opening of the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway extension on Monday.

The estimate cost of the project is P800 million to P1 billion to be shouldered by Macea, said Manuel Blas II, Vice President for Strategic LandBank Management Group at Ayala Land.

Under the proposal, the BRT will have six underground stations that will start at the corner of Edsa and Ayala Avenue, traverse Ayala then turn left at Gil Puyat Avenue and end at the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) Buendia station along Taft Avenue.

Blas said Center Island along Ayala Avenue will be replaced with the BRT lane or physically segregated lanes for the buses.

Source: Manila Bulletin