Contractor for CBRT's Package 1 successfully completes project on schedule
Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Package 1 Dry Run Set for September 2025
The long-awaited Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Package 1 dry run is scheduled to commence in the first week of September 2025. This pilot phase will cover a route from SM Seaside City Cebu at the South Road Properties to Cebu IT Park and back, with at least 20 CIBUS units taking part [1][2][3].
The dry run is expected to last for 1 to 2 months, during which Cibus units will pass newly built bus stations at Fuente Osmeña Circle, Cebu Normal University, and the Cebu South Bus Terminal [3]. The dedicated lane for the CBRT must be kept free of regular traffic from Osmena Boulevard to Natalio Bacalso Avenue during the dry run to ensure smooth operations [2].
In order to maintain traffic discipline, Cebu City will enforce a traffic discipline zone along the dedicated bus lanes. Compliance with this traffic discipline is crucial for the success of the dry run [2]. The city government will also coordinate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to study how to best address traffic congestion inside and outside the Package 1 route [4].
The CBRT Package 1, part of the first phase of the project, spans 2.38 kilometers and includes a depot and a terminal [1]. The contractor, Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Ltd., has met its Aug. 11, 2025, deadline and has minor works to complete before the dry run in September [1][2].
However, the DOTr has yet to confirm whether Cibus units will be deployed during the CBRT Package 1 dry run [1]. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is negotiating for free initial rides using modern, air-conditioned trunk buses [5].
This test phase marks a significant milestone after 13 years of planning and aims to demonstrate the system's potential to reduce commute times significantly [1][2][3][4].
Key details:
- Start Date: First week of September 2025
- Route: SM Seaside City Cebu → Fuente Osmeña Circle → Cebu Normal University → Cebu South Bus Terminal → Cebu IT Park and return
- Dry run duration: Expected to last 1 to 2 months
- Traffic management: Dedicated bus lanes enforced as traffic discipline zones; no regular vehicle access allowed on these lanes within the specified stretch
The Cebu City government is negotiating for free initial rides using modern, air-conditioned buses during the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) Package 1 dry run, which is scheduled to begin in the first week of September 2025. The route for this test phase will include travel from SM Seaside City Cebu to Cebu IT Park, passing through Fuente Osmeña Circle, Cebu Normal University, and the Cebu South Bus Terminal, with the dry run expected to last for 1 to 2 months. The local government is also coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to address traffic congestion along the designated route, as maintaining traffic discipline is crucial for the success of the dry run.
