Trackway seeks OPS for EDSA transit system

MANILA, Philippines — A consortium eyeing to undertake a mass transit system along the heavily congestedEDSA has asked the government to fast-track the award of original proponent status to enable it to start the documentary requirements for funding of as much as $200 million from the US.

In a letter submitted to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Trackway consortium CEO Francis Yuseco requested for the acceleration and approval of the group’s proposal as the original proponent for the  EDSA Rapid Trackway project.

“As previously stated, our consortium is equipped with the financial, technical and operational capabilities to provide our people a world class mass transit system we can all be proud of. Among these include the funding of our project with a $100 million to $200 million directly from the United States that will not entail any sovereign guarantee and/or taxpayers subsidies,” Yuseco said.

Yuseco said it would be necessary for the consortium to be qualified as the original proponent of the project “at the soonest possible time” to enable it to commence the required documentations of the funding.

“In any event, under RA 7718, other entities which may want to challenge our build, operate and transfer unsolicited proposal may do so within RA 7718 provisions. To be sure, however, these well thoughtout and explicitly written provisions protect all concerned, including the implementing governmental agency, the funding entities, the operating company, and all concerned parties,” he said.

The consortium’s unsolicited proposal for an EDSA Rapid Trackway under a build, operate and transfer scheme has been endorsed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s planning team for proper evaluation last October.

“As submitted, our project will create thousands of new jobs, boost up multi-downstream industries, obviate unnecessary government loans, save millions of taxpayers subsidies and significantly help abort the free fall of our economy,” Yuseco said.

Designed as a complement to the EDSA MRT, the proposed EDSA Rapid Trackway includes the construction of 35 fully air-conditioned Sky Stations (every 500 meters from Monumento to Mall of Asia) equipped with escalators, elevators, waiting lounges, wireless fiber optics, clean and hygienic comfort rooms, convenient stores and coffee shops.

The consortium will deploy an initial fleet of 250  air-conditioned double decker buses with an average speed of 60 kph, controlled and monitored from a command center.

The double decker buses will have separate cubicles per passenger.

All stations are eyed to be complemented with shuttle electric mini-buses to and from the various central business districts, subdivision villages in Makati, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Parañaque all the way to Alabang.

An integrated cashless ticketing system for its main trackway along EDSA and various shuttle services is also included in the proposal.

The Trackway consortium is composed of Yuseco’s Philtrak Inc., bus operator DLTB, bus manufacturer Del Monte Motor Works, smart and cashless toll collection system firm Micrologics Systems Inc., FEMP Safety Engineers, Land Excel Consulting Co., AirSpeed International Freight Forwarders, BACS Engineering Services, and Leechiu Property Consultants.