The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center has made it known that the development of the NCR EDSA Busway Project is pushing forward under a so-called market sounding activity they jointly conducted just days earlier.
The market sounding activity is meant to alert potential partners in the private sector in the upcoming infrastructure project.
The activity provides an overview of the proposed PPP project, gather initial feedback and valuable insights from private sector participants, and identify potential issues or concerns affecting project viability.
Meant to enhance accessibility, safety, reliability, and shorten travel time for commuters, the NCR EDSA Busway Project covers the EDSA corridor and other major and feeder roads in the region.
The scope of responsibility of the private sector partner encompass financing, design, construction, the operations and maintenance of upgraded bus stations and facilities, the procurement of a bus fleet and the operations and maintenance of busway systems.
Some 60 private sector participants and five government agencies attended the recent event.
On 5 April 2023, the PPP Center and the DOTr signed a technical assistance agreement for project preparation and transaction advisory services funded and managed by the PPP Center.
The feasibility study of the project is seen completed around midyear.
NCR EDSA Busway Project involves the financing, design and construction of bus stations, control centers and parking depots, and the purchase, operations and maintenance of a high-capacity busway plying the Circumferential Road 4 (EDSA) and other major and feeder roads.
The EDA Busway is expected to enhance the existing EDSA Carousel addressing the high demand for transportation services along the median of EDSA and feeder roads by increasing its capacity and service reliability.
The project also involves the introduction of electric buses to reduce carbon emissions along the heavily congested corridors of Metro Manila.
