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
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