125-512: The EDSA Carousel , also known as Route 1 and formerly and still referred to as Route E , is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, part of several bus routes in Metro Manila . It is situated along EDSA ( C-4 Road ) and other roads, running on a dedicated right-of-way called the EDSA Busway , separated from normal road traffic in most of its stretch by concrete barriers and steel bollards on
250-611: A "BHLS" (stands for Bus with a High Level of Service ). The term transitway was originated in 1981 with the opening of the OC Transpo transitway in Ottawa , Ontario , Canada. Critics have charged that the term "bus rapid transit" has sometimes been misapplied to systems that lack most or all the essential features which differentiate it from conventional bus services. The term " bus rapid transit creep " has been used to describe severely degraded levels of bus service which fall far short of
375-533: A BRT system to 35,000 passengers per hour. The single-lane roads of Istanbul Metrobus had been frequently blocked by Phileas buses breaking down, causing delays for all the buses in a single direction. After focusing on Mercedes-Benz buses, capacity increased to 45,000 pph. Light rail, by comparison, has reported passenger capacities between 3,500 pph (mainly street running) to 19,000 pph (fully grade-separated ). MRT Line 3 (Metro Manila) The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 , also known as
500-647: A bid. Through a negotiated procurement, the Busan joint venture , a joint venture of Busan Transportation Corporation , Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp Inc., and Castan Corporation, was awarded a three-year maintenance contract by the DOTC. The contract started in January 2016 and was slated to end by January 2019. In 2017, DOTC's succeeding agency, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) attributed
625-422: A claim that MRTC dismissed when Sumitomo was maintaining the system. The maintenance contract was terminated on November 6, 2017. Due to the high ridership of the line, a proposal under study by the DOTC and NEDA proposed to double the current capacity by acquiring additional light rail vehicles to accommodate over 520,000 passengers a day. In January 2014, the DOTC entered into a contract with CNR Dalian for
750-499: A concern in the area and since 2007, the MMDA ordered buses to stay on the two right-most lanes of the road. Plastic barriers were later added in 2016. A proposal for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system using funds from the World Bank was approved in 2017. EDSA was intended to be the second phase of the implementation of the bus rapid transit system, following Quezon Avenue . Line 2, known as
875-495: A contract to extend the latter's maintenance in the railway line until July 31, 2025. Among the projects included under the new contract is the conversion of the trains used on the line from the present three railcars to four, following the previous test runs for the four-car trains in 2022, and the expansion of the Taft Avenue pocket track to cater longer trains, allowing the pocket track to cater 4-car trains. Construction works for
1000-456: A daily average 41,000 to 60,000 passengers, and continued to rise throughout 2021, wherein the daily average of commuters using the line is 129,000 passengers, with its highest record reaching 160,000 passengers in June 2021. Total ridership in 2021 reached 47,104,197. In 2022, the line's highest record reached a total of 404,010 passengers on October 24, 2022, while the average daily ridership through
1125-626: A day, with various solutions being proposed or implemented to alleviate chronic congestion. Expanding the network's capacity to accommodate the rising number of passengers is currently set on tackling this problem. In 1973, the Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency (OTCA; predecessor of the Japan International Cooperation Agency ) presented a plan to construct five subway lines in Metro Manila. The study
1250-428: A low-noise, low-emissions "hush mode" (in which the diesel engine operates but does not exceed idle speed ) when underground. The need to provide electric power in underground environments brings the capital and maintenance costs of such routes closer to those of light rail, and raises the question of building or eventually converting to light rail. In Seattle, the downtown transit tunnel was retrofitted for conversion to
1375-530: A month to combat inflation , but was extended twice until June 30. On May 26, 2023, a ₱6.9 billion loan was signed by the governments of Japan and the Philippines for the second phase of the project, covering the line's continued maintenance and its connection to the North Triangle Common Station with the lines that would interchange at that station. Four days later, DOTr and Sumitomo signed
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#17328558260111500-449: A result, less forced ventilation will be required in tunnels to achieve the same air quality. Another alternative is to use electric propulsion, which Seattle 's Metro Bus Tunnel and Boston 's Silver Line Phase II implemented. In Seattle, dual-mode (electric/diesel electric) buses manufactured by Breda were used until 2004, with the center axle driven by electric motors obtaining power from trolley wires through trolley poles in
1625-451: A shared hybrid-bus and light-rail facility in preparation for Seattle's Central Link Light Rail line, which opened in July 2009. In March 2019, expansion of the light rail in the tunnel moved busses back to surface streets. Bi-articulated battery electric buses cause no problems in tunnels anymore but provide BRT capacity. A BRT system can be measured by a number of factors. The BRT Standard
1750-437: A standard length of 130 meters (426 ft 6 in), designed to accommodate trains with four cars. The stations are also designed to occupy the entire span of EDSA, allowing passengers to safely cross between one end of the road and the other. Most stations are also barrier-free inside and outside the station, and trains have spaces for passengers using wheelchairs . With the exception of Buendia and Ayala stations, and
1875-419: A static map, featuring services like trip planning, live arrival and departure times, up-to-date line schedules, local station maps, service alerts, and advisories that may affect one's current trip. Transit and Moovit are examples of apps that are available in many cities around the world. Some operators of bus rapid transit systems have developed their own apps, like Transmilenio. These apps even include all
2000-614: A third offense. Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit ( BRT ), also referred to as a busway or transitway , is a trolleybus , electric bus and public transport bus service system designed to have much more capacity , reliability , and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes roadways that are dedicated to buses , and gives priority to buses at intersections where buses may interact with other traffic; alongside design features to reduce delays caused by passengers boarding or leaving buses, or paying fares . BRT aims to combine
2125-477: A total daily ridership), in the developing world this capacity constraint (or rumor of a capacity constraint) was a significant argument in favor of heavy rail metro investments in some venues. When TransMilenio opened in 2000, it changed the paradigm by giving buses a passing lane at each station stop and introducing express services within the BRT infrastructure. These innovations increased the maximum achieved capacity of
2250-460: A trial basis from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm in anticipation of major traffic buildup in light of several major road projects beginning in 2014. Responding to a commuter's concern on X (formerly Twitter) about the limited operating hours at night, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) explained in August 2023 the need for timely maintenance works, since any delays would affect other portions of
2375-479: A warning about the overcrowding situation of the line, in which a failure to immediately upgrade the line's trains and systems would result in damage to the trains and systems. By October 2012, DOTC removed Sumitomo as the maintenance provider of the line due to the high costs of the contract. With the entry of the joint venture of Philippine Trans Rail Management and Services Corporation (PH Trams) and Comm Builders & Technology Philippines Corporation (CB&T) as
2500-581: Is a risk of a dangerous gap between bus and platform , and is even greater due to the nature of bus operations. Kassel curbs or other methods may be used to ease quick and safe alignment of the BRT vehicle with a platform. A popular compromise is low-floor buses with a low step at the door, which can allow easy boarding at low-platform stops compatible with other buses. This intermediate design may be used with some low- or medium-capacity BRT systems. The MIO system in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, pioneered in 2009
2625-612: Is distinct from the World Bank-funded BRT project. On July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel line, also designated as Route E , started its interim operations with a total of fifteen stops in a dedicated bus lane completed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Due to the increasing amount of passengers as restrictions are slowly being relaxed, volumes of passengers began to increase as well. In
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#17328558260112750-569: Is less complex than rail maintenance. Moreover, buses are more flexible than rail vehicles, because a bus route can be altered, either temporarily or permanently, to meet changing demand or contend with adverse road conditions with comparatively little investment of resources. The first use of a protected busway was the East Side Trolley Tunnel in Providence , Rhode Island . It was converted from trolley to bus use in 1948. However,
2875-502: Is near PNR's EDSA station, while Araneta Center–Cubao is indirectly connected to the LRT Line 2 station of the same , and Taft Avenue is connected via a covered walkway to the LRT Line 1 EDSA station. No stations are connected to other rapid transit lines within the paid areas, though that is set to change when the North Triangle Common Station , which has interchanges to LRT Line 1 and MRT Line 7 , opens in January 2025. The line
3000-561: Is officially known as the Yellow Line . Its current General Manager is Oscar Bongon. Envisioned in the 1970s and 1980s as part of various feasibility studies, the 13-station, 16.9-kilometer (10.5 mi) line was the second rapid transit line to be built in Metro Manila when it started full operations in 2000. The line is owned by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) under a 25-year build–lease–transfer agreement with
3125-425: Is open from 4:40 a.m. PHT ( UTC +8) until 10:10 p.m. on a daily basis. It operates almost every day of the year unless otherwise announced. Special schedules are announced via the public address system in every station and also in newspapers and other mass media. During Holy Week , a public holiday in the Philippines , the line is closed for annual maintenance, owing to fewer commuters and traffic around
3250-459: Is today over 18.5 miles long. The OC Transpo BRT system in Ottawa , Canada, was introduced in 1983. The first element of its BRT system was dedicated bus lanes through the city centre, with platformed stops. The introduction of exclusive separate busways (termed 'Transitway') occurred in 1983. By 1996, all of the originally envisioned 31 km Transitway system was in operation; further expansions were opened in 2009, 2011, and 2014. As of 2019,
3375-624: The Inquirer Libre , a free, tabloid -size, Tagalog version of the Inquirer , which is available at all stations. In 2014, Pilipino Mirror also started distributing free tabloid newspapers. The line's safety was affirmed in a 2004 World Bank paper prepared by Halcrow , describing the overall state of metro rail transit operations in Manila as being "good". However, since the DOTr took over maintenance of
3500-559: The BRT Standard promoted by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and other organizations. Compared to other common transit modes such as light rail transit (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT) service is attractive to transit authorities because it does not cost as much to establish and operate: no track needs to be laid, bus drivers typically require less training and less pay than rail operators, and bus maintenance
3625-488: The COVID-19 pandemic delayed its completion to the following December. The project was completed on the aforementioned date, as announced by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on February 28, 2022. On March 22, President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary Tugade inaugurated the newly rehabilitated line at a completion ceremony held at Shaw Boulevard station . As part of its completion, free rides were offered initially for
3750-635: The Central Corridor , will be eventually realized as the EDSA Carousel. On March 16, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) imposed a community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic , which halted almost all public and private transportation using EDSA. This paved the way for the immediate construction of the EDSA Busway. Traffic in
3875-529: The Department of Public Works and Highways for a flyover in 1996. MRTC projected a capacity breach in the system by 2002. By 2004, the line had the highest ridership of the three lines, with 400,000 passengers daily. By early 2012, the system was carrying around 550,000 to 600,000 commuters during weekdays and was often badly overcrowded during peak times of access during the day and night. The line operated beyond its original designed capacity from 2004 to 2019. In 2011, Sumitomo, through TES Philippines, issued
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4000-524: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings , DM Wenceslao and Associates Inc., and Double Dragon Properties Corp. for the construction of EDSA busway bridges. The bridges will be shouldered by the three companies, seeking to provide safer, convenient, and PWD -friendly walkways for the riding public using the EDSA Carousel stops, and for pedestrians crossing EDSA. The pedestrian bridges were conceptualized with concourses , concierge, ticketing booths, and turnstiles for
4125-605: The Indonesian capital city . Bus rapid transit is a mode of mass rapid transit (MRT) and describes a high-capacity urban public-transit system with its own right of way , vehicles at short headways , platform-level boarding, and preticketing. The expression "BRT" is mainly used in the Americas and China; in India, it is called "BRTS" (BRT System); in Europe it is often called a "busway" or
4250-906: The MIO in Cali since November 2008, Metrolinea in Bucaramanga since December 2009, Megabús in Pereira since May 2009. This design is also used in Johannesburg 's Rea Vaya . The term "station" is more flexibly applied in North America and ranges from enclosed waiting areas ( Ottawa and Cleveland ) to large open-sided shelters ( Los Angeles and San Bernardino ). A unique and distinctive identity can contribute to BRT's attractiveness as an alternative to driving cars, (such as Viva, Max, TransMilenio, Metropolitano, Metronit, Select) marking stops and stations as well as
4375-452: The MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 by making use of the train stations' emergency exit stairways. Some bus stops, such as the ones at Ayala (northbound), SM Mall of Asia, and Macapagal Boulevard, still use the existing stops on the curbside, while the southbound Ayala bus stop is located inside One Ayala . Unlike those along EDSA, stops along Macapagal Boulevard are unmarked. On November 16, 2020,
4500-479: The MRT Line 3 , MRT-3 , or Metrostar Express , is a rapid transit line in Metro Manila in the Philippines . The line runs in an orbital north to south route following the alignment of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). Despite its name, the line is more akin to a light rapid transit system owing to its tram-like rolling stock while having total grade separation and high passenger throughput. The line
4625-477: The business process outsourcing sector). Citing low ridership figures and financial losses, this was suspended after two days, and operations were instead extended from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 am. Operations subsequently returned to the former schedule (5:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 5:30 a.m. until 10:00 pm during weekends and holidays) by April 2010, but services were again extended starting March 10, 2014, with trains running on
4750-496: The median , some stops are temporarily served by bus stops on the curbside . The line is operated by the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation and ES Transport and Partners Consortium under the supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Epifanio de los Santos Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila . Traffic congestion has always been
4875-435: The 15,000 to 25,000 range. Research of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) shows a capacity ranking of MRT modes, based on reported performance of 14 light rail systems, 14 heavy rail systems (just 1-track + 3 2-track-systems "highest capacity") and 56 BRT systems. The study concludes, that BRT-"capacity on TransMilenio exceeds all but the highest capacity heavy rail systems, and it far exceeds
5000-457: The Busway also runs parallel to the MRT Line 3 and the northern section of the LRT Line 1 . Plans are also underway to expand the Busway system by improving the accessibility and connectivity on various bus stops to nearby transport networks. The line utilizes existing pedestrian footbridges along EDSA by constructing additional stairways to the center island of EDSA. It also uses some stations of
5125-477: The Czech and Slovak Federal Republics, TCGI Engineering All Asia Capital and Leasing Corporation, The Salim Group of Jakarta, E. L. Enterprises, Inc., and A.M. Oreta & Co. Capitol Industrial Construction Group, Inc., and F. F. Cruz & Co., Inc. EDSA LRT Consortium was the sole firm that passed the pre-qualification process, and submitted its proposal to the DOTC on July 16. The Build-lease-Transfer (BLT) agreement
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5250-588: The DOTC would assume all administrative functions, such as the regulation of fares and operations, leaving the MRTC responsibility over construction and maintenance of the system as well as the procurement of spare parts for trains. MRTC would later transfer the responsibility of maintaining the system to the DOTC in November 2010. In exchange, the DOTC would pay the MRTC monthly fees for a certain number of years to reimburse any incurred costs. Construction began on October 15 of
5375-585: The DOTr to be in the bus lane), ambulances carrying patients (but not ambulances driving to the scene of an emergency, or returning to base), vehicles of the Philippine National Police , fire trucks, vehicles essential for maintaining the EDSA Busway Corousel Lane Project, such as security vehicles, janitorial and sanitation vehicles, maintenance vehicles, etc. and essential on-duty government vehicles and convoys, including those from
5500-522: The EDSA Busway have been recorded, causing disruptions to EDSA Carousel operations. Barring exceptional emergency situations, trespassing by unauthorized vehicles is strictly prohibited. Violators will face apprehension, ticketing, and possible revocation of their driver's license, even if they belong to a government agency. Vehicles considered authorized to be in the EDSA Busway Carousel include EDSA Carousel buses (and other buses that are allowed by
5625-456: The EDSA Busway is restricted to authorized city buses, as well as emergency vehicles such as ambulances , firetrucks , and responders to emergencies and vehicles and convoys that have been coordinated beforehand. Enforcement of the Busway is provided by MMDA Regulation No. 20-002, which was signed on July 28, 2020. Public and private motor vehicle drivers that violate the regulation are fined ₱ 1,000 for each offense. The EDSA Carousel line
5750-464: The EDSA Busway. In light of this, the Move As One Coalition, a non-government transport advocacy organization, urged the government to implement at-grade crosswalks and speed limits , widen the EDSA Busway lanes, use safer barriers and BRT-compatible buses, and conduct proper training for bus drivers. Multiple incidents of private and non-emergency government motor vehicles illegally using
5875-875: The EDSA LRT III on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. On July 9, 1990, President Corazon Aquino signed Republic Act No. 6957, simply known as the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law; it took exactly three months later. The government then published an invitation to pre-qualify and bid for the project on February 21, 1991. Five groups responded to the invitation: ABB Trazione of Italy, Hopewell Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong, Mansteel International of Mandaue, Cebu, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan, and EDSA LRT Consortium, composed of ten foreign and domestic corporations: namely, Kaiser Engineers International, Inc., ACER Consultants (Far East) Ltd. and Freeman Fox (both later merged with Hyder Consulting ), Tradeinvest/ ČKD Tatra of
6000-503: The LRTA and the PNR or a similar bus ride along EDSA. Although the MRTC projected 300,000–400,000 passengers riding the system daily, in the first month of operation the system saw a ridership of only 40,000 passengers daily (the ridership improved quickly, however, when passengers experienced significantly faster and convenient travel along EDSA, which experience soon spread by word of mouth). The system
6125-444: The MMDA and of the top five government officials (i.e., President , Vice President , Senate President , House Speaker , and Chief Justice ), that have been coordinated beforehand. As of November 13, 2023, the fines for illegally trespassing the EDSA Busway are as follows: The new fines came into effect through the passing of Metro Manila Council Resolution 23-002. Any driver who attempts to flee from officers automatically incurs
6250-630: The MRT Corporation (MRTC), the private concessionaire that built the line, and then bid it out to private bidders. The Aquino government accused the MRTC of neglecting and not improving the services of the line under its watch. In February 2016, the Philippine Senate released a report stating that DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya and other DOTC officials "may have violated" the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to questionable contracts with
6375-729: The Ortigas Bus Stop, located across SM Megamall , the Roxas Boulevard Bus Stop, which is located across the DoubleDragon Plaza, and the Macapagal – Bradco Avenue, in collaboration with DM Wenceslao. Each concourse will feature a concierge, ticketing booths and turnstiles for the automatic fare collection system. In a span of two years since the implementation of the EDSA Busway and the start of EDSA Carousel operations, multiple road crashes have been recorded within and outside of
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#17328558260116500-577: The Philippine government's Department of Transportation (DOTr), who operates the line. The line is integrated with the public transit system in Metro Manila, where passengers also take various forms of road-based public transport, such as buses, to and from a station to reach their intended destination. Serving close to 360,000 passengers on a daily basis, the line is the busiest among Metro Manila's three rapid transit lines. Total ridership significantly exceeds its built maximum capacity of 350,000 passengers
6625-639: The United States, BRT began in 1977, with Pittsburgh's South Busway , operating on 4.3 miles (6.9 km) of exclusive lanes. Its success led to the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway in 1983, a fuller BRT deployment including a dedicated busway of 9.1 miles (14.6 km), traffic signal preemption , and peak service headway as low as two minutes. After the opening of the West Busway , 5.1 miles (8.2 km) in length in 2000, Pittsburgh's Busway system
6750-484: The amount of buses available to serve passengers during rush hours. Proposals to privatize the operations of the EDSA Carousel to further improve its services were explored. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is open to such proposals, adding these must be "explored expeditiously." Since the line's opening in June 2020, the total ridership of the line was 130,238,608 commuters within June 2020 to November 2022. From June to December 2020, total ridership has reached
6875-590: The automated fare collection system. Ramps and elevators would also be available to provide accessibility for PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant passengers. The structures will be strategically located at the SM Mall of Asia , SM North EDSA , SM Megamall , Macapagal Boulevard in Aseana City and the corner of EDSA and Macapagal Boulevard . The groundbreaking ceremony for the EDSA Busway Concourse Project
7000-419: The buses. Large cities usually have big bus networks. A map showing all bus lines might be incomprehensible, and cause people to wait for low-frequency buses that may not even be running at the time they are needed. By identifying the main bus lines having high-frequency service, with a special brand and separate maps, it is easier to understand the entire network. Public transit apps are more convenient than
7125-764: The capacity and speed of a light rail transit (LRT) or mass rapid transit (MRT) system with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system. The world's first BRT system was the Runcorn Busway in Runcorn New Town, England, which entered service in 1971. As of March 2018 , a total of 166 cities in six continents have implemented BRT systems, accounting for 4,906 km (3,048 mi) of BRT lanes and about 32.2 million passengers every day. The majority of these are in Latin America , where about 19.6 million passengers ride daily, and which has
7250-585: The center of major arterial roads, in 1980 the Curitiba system added a feeder bus network and inter-zone connections, and in 1992 introduced off-board fare collection, enclosed stations, and platform-level boarding. Other systems made further innovations, including platooning (three buses entering and leaving bus stops and traffic signals at once) in Porto Alegre , and passing lanes and express service in São Paulo . In
7375-591: The central part of the Transitway has been converted to light rail transit , due to the downtown section being operated beyond its designed capacity. In 1995, Quito , Ecuador, opened MetrobusQ its first BRT trolleybuses in Quito , using articulated trolleybuses. The TransMilenio in Bogotá , Colombia, opening in 2000, was the first BRT system to combine the best elements of Curitiba's BRT with other BRT advances, and achieved
7500-519: The concept while sketching on the back of an envelope. The town was designed around the transport system, with most residents no more than five minutes walking distance, or 500 yards (460 m), from the Busway. The second BRT system in the world was the Rede Integrada de Transporte (RIT, integrated transportation network ), implemented in Curitiba , Brazil, in 1974. The Rede Integrada de Transporte
7625-627: The first BRT system in the world was the Runcorn Busway in Runcorn , England. First conceived in the Runcorn New Town Masterplan in 1966, it opened for services in October 1971 and all 22 kilometres (14 mi) were operational by 1980. The central station is at Runcorn Shopping City where buses arrive on dedicated raised busways to two enclosed stations. Arthur Ling , Runcorn Development Corporation's Master Planner, said that he had invented
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#17328558260117750-589: The five lines proposed in 1973. The study recommended heavy rail due to the rising population. During the construction of the first line of the Manila Light Rail Transit System in the early 1980s, Electrowatt Engineering Services of Zürich designed a comprehensive plan for metro service in Metro Manila. The plan—still used as the basis for planning new metro lines—consisted of a 150-kilometer (93 mi) network of rapid transit lines spanning all major corridors within 20 years. The study integrated
7875-442: The following features: Bus-only lanes make for faster travel and ensure that buses are not delayed by mixed traffic congestion . A median alignment bus-only keeps buses away from busy curb-side side conflicts, where cars and trucks are parking, standing and turning. Separate rights of way may be used such as the completely elevated Xiamen BRT . Transit malls or 'bus streets' may also be created in city centers. Fare prepayment at
8000-662: The green phase or reducing the red phase in the required direction compared to the normal sequence. Prohibiting turns may be the most important measure for moving buses through intersections. The station platforms for BRT systems should be level with the bus floor for quick and easy boarding, making it fully accessible for wheelchairs, disabled passengers and baby strollers, with minimal delays. High-level platforms for high-floored buses makes it difficult to have stops outside dedicated platforms, or to have conventional buses stop at high-level platforms, so these BRT stops are distinct from street-level bus stops. Similar to rail vehicles, there
8125-628: The highest capacity and highest speed BRT system in the world. In January 2004 the first BRT in Southeast Asia, TransJakarta , opened in Jakarta , Indonesia. As of 2015 , at 210 kilometres (130 mi), it is the longest BRT system in the world. Africa's first BRT system was opened in Lagos , Nigeria, in March 2008 but is considered a light BRT system by many people. Johannesburg , South Africa, BRT Rea Vaya ,
8250-447: The highest light rail system." Performance data of 84 systems show More topical are these BRT data After the first BRT system opened in 1971, cities were slow to adopt BRT because they believed that the capacity of BRT was limited to about 12,000 passengers per hour traveling in a given direction during peak demand. While this is a capacity rarely needed in the US (12,000 is more typical as
8375-495: The initial section from North Avenue to Buendia was inaugurated by President Joseph Estrada , with all remaining stations opening on July 20, 2000, a little over a month past the original deadline, due to DOTC's inclusion of additional work orders such as the Tramo flover in Pasay leading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport . However, ridership was initially far below expectations when
8500-440: The innermost lane. Interim operations began on June 1, 2020, serving as a replacement of the former bus routes along EDSA, acting as an augmentation service to the MRT Line 3 due to the limited capacity restrictions put in place by the general community quarantine in Metro Manila as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines . Full operations began later on July 1, 2020. Intended to be largely served by bus stops along
8625-424: The leading builder of trams and light rail vehicles for the Eastern Bloc , on rolling stock. MRTC also retained the services of ICF Kaiser Engineers and Constructors to provide program management and technical oversight of the services for the design, construction management, and commissioning. MRTC would later sign a maintenance agreement with Sumitomo and Mitsubishi for the maintenance of the line on December 10 of
8750-409: The line being constructed at ground level, resulting in the closure of several intersections along EDSA, forcing people to take long detours just to cross EDSA. Residents also complained that they were not properly consulted about the line's construction in their area. The MRTC stated that the segment could not be made as an elevated railway due to the air rights above the LRT-1 already being awarded to
8875-406: The line for the next trips. The DOTr added that unlike the extensive railway systems of Europe and Japan, where 24-hour operations are possible, the MRT system only consists of one line. The department also claimed that if maintenance is not ensured, the line would "slowly deteriorate". The stations have a standard layout, with a platform level and a concourse level. The concourse is usually above
9000-523: The line is Taft Avenue at Pasay Rotonda, the intersection between Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Taft Avenue , while the northern terminus is the North Avenue along EDSA in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City . Three stations serve as connecting stations with the lines of the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT) and Philippine National Railways (PNR). The Magallanes station
9125-466: The line operated significantly above its designed capacity of 350,000 passengers per day from 2004 to 2019, government officials have admitted that capacity and system upgrades are overdue, although the DOTr has never acted on the numerous capacity expansion proposals of the private owners. In the absence of major investment in improving system safety and reliability, DOTr has resorted to experimenting with and implementing other solutions to reduce strain on
9250-511: The line to return to its original high-grade design. The project was part of the Build! Build! Build! infrastructure program. On November 8, 2018, the loan agreement for the project was signed, while the rehabilitation and maintenance contract was signed on December 28. The project was initially slated to start by January 2019, but the implementation of a re-enacted government budget for 2019 and finalization of documents caused repeated delays on when
9375-403: The line was still partially open, with passengers complaining of the tickets' steep price and the general lack of connectivity of the stations with other modes of public transportation. Passengers' complaints of high ticket prices pointed to the maximum fare of ₱ 34 (equivalent to ₱79.21 in 2021), which at the time was significantly higher than a comparable journey on those lines operated by
9500-403: The line. These proposals however would be rejected by the government. Following the termination of the maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail, Inc., the DOTr announced on November 29, 2017, that a government-to-government agreement between the Philippines and Japan would be signed by the end of that year, paving the way for Sumitomo Corporation to return as the maintenance provider of
9625-439: The line. An unsolicited proposal were made by Metro Pacific Investments in 2011 at a cost of ₱25.1 billion . Another proposal was presented in 2014 at a cost of ₱23.3 billion . In 2017, in the wake of various daily service interruptions in the line, San Miguel Corporation expressed its interest to rehabilitate the line. That same year, Metro Pacific submitted another ₱20 billion proposal to rehabilitate, operate and maintain
9750-570: The line. The three-year contract would cover the rehabilitation and maintenance of the line. The ₱22 billion project, partly funded by a ₱18 billion loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency , was approved by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on August 17, 2018. It intended to rehabilitate and upgrade the existing systems and trains, for
9875-443: The location, funding, and feasibility studies are yet to be determined and conducted. In 2024, SM Prime and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inaugurated the first busway concourse of the Busway route, located along SM North EDSA . The upcoming concourse is the first among three EDSA Carousel Concourse project, which was once part of the Build! Build! Build! project. Other busway concourses being planned are located along
10000-403: The maintenance provider in 2012, and APT Global in 2013, it marked the start of the deterioration of the line due to poor maintenance by the aforementioned maintenance providers that DOTC appointed. In 2014, there were reported daily incidents and disruptions, and a derailment of one train coach on August 13 of that year. The government of Benigno Aquino III had been planning to buy the line from
10125-551: The metro, leaving the EDSA Carousel as an alternative mode of transport. Normal operation resumes after Easter Sunday . During the Christmas season , operating hours are shortened to allow its staff to celebrate the holidays with their families. It has experimented with extended opening hours, the first of which included 24-hour operations beginning on June 1, 2009 (primarily aimed at serving call center agents and other workers in
10250-467: The mid-section of EDSA for a distance of 17.8 kilometers (11.1 mi) from F.B. Harrison , Pasay, to North Avenue, Quezon City. The system will have its own power facility. It will also have thirteen (13) passenger stations and one depot on 16-hectare (40-acre) government property at North Avenue. However, construction could not commence, with the project stalled as the Philippine government conducted several investigations into alleged irregularities with
10375-474: The most cities with BRT systems, with 54, led by Brazil with 21 cities. The Latin American countries with the most daily ridership are Brazil (10.7 million), Colombia (3.0 million), and Mexico (2.5 million). In the other regions, China (4.3 million) and Iran (2.1 million) stand out. Currently, TransJakarta is the largest BRT network in the world, with about 251.2 kilometres (156.1 mi) of corridors connecting
10500-462: The only underground stations on the line. The rail line serves the cities of Pasay , Makati , Mandaluyong , San Juan and Quezon City . The line crosses Osmeña Highway and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at Magallanes Interchange in Makati. The line has 13 stations along its 16.9-kilometer (10.5 mi) route, spaced on average around 1.3 kilometers (0.81 mi) apart. The southern terminus of
10625-598: The operation's disruptions of the rail system to the Busan joint venture, later known as Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), with DOTr Transport Undersecretary for Rails Cesar Chavez noting 98 service interruptions and 833 passenger unloadings (or average of twice daily) as well as train derailments in April–June 2017. BURI insisted that the disruptions the railway line was experiencing is due to "inherent design and quality concerns" and not to poor maintenance or normal tear or wear. It said that glitches started occurring since 2000,
10750-402: The platform level of Taft Avenue and Boni stations, all stations are situated above ground, taking advantage of EDSA's topology. Stations either have side platforms , which is the case for most stations, or island platforms , such as Taft Avenue. Due to the very high patronage of the line, before the pandemic, part of the platform corresponding to the first car of the train is cordoned off for
10875-539: The platform, with stairs , escalators and elevators leading down to the platform level. However, fare gates are located at the platform level in most stations, meaning that commuters will need to exit the paid area to catch a train going in the opposite direction. Switching trains without paying a new fare is only possible at the Araneta Center–Cubao , Boni , Buendia , Ayala , and Taft Avenue stations due to their different layout. The station platforms have
11000-561: The pocket track extension began in November 2024. The program aims to increase the line's ridership capacity to 500,000 passengers a day. The lines run along the alignment of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from North Avenue in Quezon City to the intersection of EDSA and Taft Avenue in Pasay . The rails are mostly elevated and erected either over or along the roads covered, with cut and underground sections between Buendia and Ayala stations,
11125-539: The previous 1973 OTCA study, the 1976 JICA study, and the 1977 Freeman Fox and Associates study, which was used as the basis for the LRT Line 1 . The project was restarted as a light rail project in 1989. DOTC planned to construct a light railway transit line along EDSA , a major thoroughfare in Metropolitan Manila, which would traverse the cities of Quezon , Mandaluyong , Makati , and Pasay . The plan, referred to as EDSA Light Rail Transit III (EDSA LRT III),
11250-501: The procurement of 48 light rail vehicles . The trains, commonly referred to as the Dalian trains, were delivered in batches from 2015 to 2017. The introduction of the new trains would have allowed the line to handle over 800,000 passengers. The Dalian trains entered revenue service in May 2016. However, these became a subject of controversy among government officials, citing its incompatibility with
11375-509: The project could start, which only started on May 1, 2019. Under the 43-month contract, which was undertaken by Sumitomo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering (MHIENG; part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [MHI] group), and TES Philippines, rehabilitation works were to be done within 26 months. It covers the overhaul of all MRTC Class 3000 vehicles , repairs on the escalators and elevators, rail replacement, upgrades on
11500-491: The project's contract. The Supreme Court had a case barring Eli Levin from implementing the project in March 1994, and the bids were ABB and Mitsubishi Corporation , which also wanted to supply contracts. A year later, the Supreme Court upheld the regularity of the project which paved the way for construction to finally begin during the term of President Ramos. A consortium of local companies, led by Fil-Estate Management
11625-447: The rehabilitation of the line. The project started in June 2019 and was completed on August 20, 2020. In February 2012, the line allowed folding bicycles to be brought into trains provided that the wheels do not exceed more than 20 inches (51 cm) in diameter. Platform screen doors were also planned for each station, with the plans for the platform doors were laid out as early as 2013, however, these plans were delayed until it
11750-858: The right side of the street. Groups of criteria form the BRT Standard 2016, which is updated by the Technical Committee of the BRT Standard. High-capacity vehicles such as articulated or even bi-articulated buses may be used, typically with multiple doors for fast entry and exit. Double-decker buses or guided buses may also be used. Advanced powertrain control may be used for a smoother ride. Bottleneck BRT stations typically provide loading areas for simultaneous boarding and alighting of buses through multiple doors coordinated via displays and loudspeakers. An example of high-quality stations include those used on TransMilenio in Bogotá since December 2000,
11875-416: The same year, with a BLT agreement signed between the Philippine government and the MRTC. An amended turnkey agreement was later signed on September 16, 1997, with Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries . Sumitomo and Mitsubishi subcontracted EEI Corporation and AsiaKonstrukt for the civil works. A separate agreement was signed with ČKD Dopravní Systémy (ČKD Tatra, now part of Siemens AG ),
12000-496: The same year. During construction, the MRTC oversaw the design, construction, equipping, testing, and commissioning, while the DOTC oversaw technical supervision of the project activities covered by the BLT contract between the DOTC and MRTC. The DOTC also sought the services of SYSTRA , a French consultant firm, with regards to the technical competence, experience and track record in the construction and operations. On December 15, 1999,
12125-771: The schedules and live arrival times and stations for buses that feed the BRT, like the SITP (Sistema Integrado de Transporte Público or Public Transit Integrated System) in Bogotá . A special issue arises in the use of buses in metro transit structures. Since the areas where the demand for an exclusive bus right-of-way are apt to be in dense downtown areas where an above-ground structure may be unacceptable on historic, logistic, or environmental grounds, use of BRT in tunnels may not be avoidable. Since buses are usually powered by internal combustion engines , bus metros raise ventilation issues similar to those of motor vehicle tunnels. Powerful fans typically exchange air through ventilation shafts to
12250-509: The signaling and communication systems, power supply, overhead systems, maintenance and station equipment. After the rehabilitation, a 17-month maintenance contract will be undertaken by the Japanese firms. The contract was originally slated to end by December 31, 2022, or 43 months after the start of rehabilitation, but was moved to May 31, 2023. The rehabilitation was originally scheduled to be completed by July 2021. However, delays brought by
12375-449: The signaling system and weight limits on tracks. Later, it was revealed that several adjustments to the Dalian trains were required prior to revenue run deployment. The train manufacturer CRRC Dalian has agreed to amend the train specifications to match the contract terms at no cost, and will do so in the soonest possible time. Due to the trains undergoing the said adjustments, they were slowly introduced into regular operations, which led to
12500-405: The start of the gradual deployment on October 27, 2018. Aside from the procurement of the new trains, the capacity expansion project included the upgrading of the ancillary systems such as the power supply, overhead lines, the extension of the pocket track near Taft Avenue station and the modification of the turn back siding north of the North Avenue station . The original plan also included
12625-492: The station, instead of on board the bus, eliminates the delay caused by passengers paying on board. Fare machines at stations also allow riders to purchase multi-ride stored-value cards and have multiple payment options. Prepayment also allows riders to board at all doors, further speeding up stops. Prohibiting turns for traffic across the bus lane significantly reduces delays to the buses. Bus priority will often be provided at signalized intersections to reduce delays by extending
12750-430: The subsequent maintenance providers. In a Senate report where the line's condition was found to be in "poor maintenance" as per studies made by MTR HK, DOTC officials were reported to be involved in graft in relation to questionable contracts, especially those for the maintenance of the line. The DOTC tried to bid out a three-year maintenance contract in 2014 and 2015, but both biddings failed because no bidders submitted
12875-404: The subway, and with the rear axle driven by a conventional diesel powertrain on freeways and streets. Boston is using a similar approach, after initially using trolleybuses pending delivery of the dual-mode vehicles that was completed in 2005. In 2004, Seattle replaced its "Transit Tunnel" fleet with diesel-electric hybrid buses, which operate similarly to hybrid cars outside the tunnel and in
13000-417: The surface; these are usually as remote as possible from occupied areas, to minimize the effects of noise and concentrated pollution. A straightforward way to reduce air quality problems is to use internal combustion engines with lower emissions. The 2008 Euro V European emission standards set a limit on carbon monoxide from heavy-duty diesel engines of 1.5 g/kWh, one third of the 1992 Euro I standard. As
13125-544: The system, including crowd management on station platforms and the proposed implementation of peak-hour express train service. However, some of these solutions, such as platform crowd management, are unpopular with passengers. For safety and security reasons, persons who are visibly intoxicated , insane and/or under the influence of controlled substances , persons carrying flammable materials and/or explosives, and persons carrying bulky objects or items over 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) tall and/or wide are prohibited from entering
13250-428: The theoretical maximum throughput measured in passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) for a single traffic lane is some 150,000 passengers per hour (250 passengers per vehicle, one vehicle every 6 seconds). In real world conditions BRT Rio (de Janeiro, BRS Presidente Vargas) with 65.000 PPHPD holds the record, TransMilenio Bogotá and Metrobus Istanbul perform 49,000 – 45,000 PPHPD, most other busy systems operating in
13375-407: The train system in 2012, the safety and reliability of the system has been questioned, with experts calling it "an accident waiting to happen." While several incidents and accidents were reported between 2012 and 2014, they did not deter commuters from using the system. The Philippine government, meanwhile, continues to assert that the system is safe overall despite those incidents and accidents. As
13500-525: The upgrading of the signaling system. These upgrades, except for the upgrades to the Taft Avenue pocket track and the North Avenue turn back siding, would only be realized as part of the line's rehabilitation. Plans were also laid to increase the number of cars in each train set, from the current three cars to four cars, which also increases the number of passengers being accommodated for each trip, from 1,182 passengers to 1,576. The first mention of this plan
13625-488: The use of senior citizens , pregnant women, children who are below 4 feet (1.2 m) and age seven, and disabled passengers. Since 2021, the first two doors of the first car of the train have been allotted as a priority section for the aforementioned passengers. The line has a total of 46 escalators and 34 elevators across all 13 stations. Prior to the rehabilitation, only few escalators and elevators were operational. The escalators and elevators were rehabilitated as part of
13750-499: The use of dual buses, with doors on the left side of the bus that are located at the height of high-level platforms, and doors on the right side that are located at curb height. These buses can use the main line with its exclusive lanes and high level platforms, located on the center of the street and thus, boarding and leaving passengers on the left side. These buses can exit the main line and use normal lanes that share with other vehicles and stop at regular stations located on sidewalks on
13875-407: The wake of increasing inflation and world market movements affecting currency values, free rides for the EDSA Carousel was announced for the remaining months of then-President Rodrigo Duterte 's term. Upon Bongbong Marcos 's assumption of the presidency, free rides were extended until the end of 2022, in spite of budgetary concerns. However, the free rides introduced problems of ridership capacity and
14000-407: The year is 389,579 passengers. Total ridership also increased to a new record high, as the line served 80,832,186 passengers. The line initially had 15 bus stops on its interim launch, with additional stops added in the following months. As of July 16, 2024, 23 bus stops are currently operational. There are 87 operators and 751 authorized buses that serve the entire route. Selected stops of
14125-488: Was also initially criticized as a white elephant , comparing it to the Manila Light Rail Transit System and the Metro Manila Skyway . To alleviate passenger complaints, the MRTC later reduced passenger fares to ₱15 (equivalent to ₱34.95 in 2021), as per the request of then-President Joseph Estrada and a subsequent government subsidy. During the line's construction in 2000, Pasay residents raised concerns about
14250-522: Was approved by the Cabinet on January 19, 1993. On May 6 of that same year, the project was launched by President Fidel V. Ramos . According to the agreements, the EDSA LRT III will use light rail vehicles from the Czech and Slovak Federal Republics and will have a maximum carrying capacity of 450,000 passengers a day, or 150 million a year to be achieved, through 54 such vehicles operating simultaneously. The EDSA LRT III will run at grade, or street level, on
14375-410: Was conducted on March 9, 2022. Regular four-car operations began in the same month, initially deploying two trains for daily operations, subsequently increased to four. Although full conversion was initially planned to be achieved by 2023, all trains reverted to the existing 3-car configuration a few months after the months-long free rides ended. As early as 2011, there were proposals to rehabilitate
14500-438: Was developed by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) to score BRT corridors, producing a list of rated BRT corridors meeting the minimum definition of BRT. The highest rated systems received a "gold" ranking. The latest edition of the standard was published in 2016. Other metrics used to evaluate BRT performance include: Based on this data, the minimum headway and maximum current vehicle capacities,
14625-557: Was held on May 18, 2021. It was expected to be completed in March 2022, but no updates have been announced since then. On June 20, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced an additional 11 more stops would be added to the EDSA Carousel, which would bring the total number of stops to 29. The Tramo, Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Kamuning and Philam (Ormoc) stops have since been completed. The proposed Cubao, Connecticut, Greenfields, and Estrella stops still remain under consideration, as
14750-445: Was in 2013, during the procurement of the new trains. However, in January 2016, an anonymous railway expert warned that the power supply at that time was not capable of handling four-car operations. Despite this, four-car operations were first tested in a Dalian train in May 2016. After the rehabilitation of the line which included the upgrading of the power supply, a dynamic test run for the use of four-car trains for regular operations
14875-490: Was inspired by the previous transport system of the National Urban Transport Company of Peru (In Spanish: ENATRU ), which only had quick access on Lima downtown , but it would not be considered BRT itself. Many of the elements that have become associated with BRT were innovations first suggested by Carlos Ceneviva, within the team of Curitiba Mayor Jaime Lerner . Initially just dedicated bus lanes in
15000-456: Was intended to provide a mass transit system along EDSA and alleviate the congestion and growing transportation problems in the metropolis. On March 3, 1990, a letter of intent was sent by Eli Levin Enterprises, Inc., represented by Elijahu Levin, to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), now Department of Transportation (DOTr), secretary Oscar Orbos , proposing to construct
15125-538: Was known as the Urban Transport Study in the Manila Metropolitan Area. One of the five lines, Line 3, was planned as a 24.3-kilometer (15.1 mi) line along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the region's busiest road corridor. The plan would have resolved the traffic problems of Metro Manila and would have taken 15 years to complete. Another study by JICA was presented in 1976 which included
15250-503: Was later joined by Ayala Land , and 5 others, later formed the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) in June 1995 and took over the EDSA LRT Corporation. On March 27, 1996, the unveiling marker was attended by President Ramos and others. The MRTC was subsequently awarded a Build-Lease-Transfer contract by the DOTC, which meant that the latter would possess ownership of the system after the 25-year concession period. Meanwhile,
15375-483: Was reconsidered in 2017. Some stations are connected at concourse level to nearby buildings, such as shopping malls, for easier accessibility. Inside the concourse of all stations are stalls or shops where people can buy food or drinks. Stalls vary by station, and some have fast food stalls. Since November 19, 2001, in cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer , passengers have been offered copies of
15500-423: Was signed on November 7. On September 22, 1992, DOTC and EDSA LRT Corporation signed a revised and restated BLT Agreement. The new BLT Agreement defined the project coverage in two phases: Phase 1, which spanned 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) between North Avenue, Quezon City and Taft Avenue , Pasay , and Phase II, which spanned 5.5 kilometers (3.4 mi) from North Avenue to Monumento , Caloocan . The project
15625-612: Was the first true BRT in Africa, in August 2009, carrying 16,000 daily passengers. Rea Vaya and MIO (BRT in Cali , Colombia, opened 2009) were the first two systems to combine full BRT with some services that also operated in mixed traffic, then joined the BRT trunk infrastructure. In 2017 Marrakesh , Morocco, opened its first BRT Marrakesh trolleybus system (BHNS De Marrakesh) trolleybuses Corridors of 8 km (5.0 mi), of which 3 km (1.9 mi) of overhead wiring for operation as trolleybus. BRT systems normally include most of
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