Makati Could Get Its Own Bus Lanes Through Ayala and Buendia—Here's What We Know So Far

(SPOT.ph) Getting around Makati’s business districts could eventually mean hopping on an electric bus that gets priority along major roads like Ayala Avenue, Buendia Avenue, Makati Avenue, and Chino Roces Avenue—if the proposal makes it past government review, that is.

The Makati City government is now evaluating a P17.76-billion bus rapid transit (BRT) proposal that would put high-capacity electric buses on dedicated or priority lanes across two routes through the city.

The proposal was submitted by the Makati BRT Consortium. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center endorsed it to Makati on July 30 after finding that it complied with the requirements for an unsolicited proposal. On August 10, the Makati City Government said it would proceed with a more detailed evaluation of the project.

Instead of regular city buses, the proposed fleet would use low-floor, 18-meter articulated electric buses—the long buses with a flexible section in the middle that allows them to carry more passengers. Here's everything we know so far about this project.

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Line 1 would cover a 9.2-kilometer round trip, including around 6.9 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes. It would pass through Ayala Avenue, Buendia Avenue, Makati Avenue, Palm Drive, and East Street, making it the busier of the two lines. It is designed to carry up to 13,000 passengers per hour in each direction during peak periods.

Buses on Line 1 are also expected to come roughly every 1.5 minutes during rush hour, while an end-to-end trip is projected to take about 25.3 minutes.

Meanwhile, Line 2 would cover an 8.3-kilometer round trip, with about 6.2 kilometers of dedicated or priority lanes. It would serve Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue, J.P. Rizal Street, Trabajo Street, Hippodromo Street, A.P. Reyes Street, Chino Roces Avenue, Kalayaan Avenue, South Avenue, Ayala Avenue Extension, and the Ayala Center road network. During peak hours, buses are projected to arrive around every 2.5 minutes, while a full trip would take about 23 minutes.

Both routes are planned to operate for around 18 hours a day from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The schedule is meant to cover the typical workday of employees commuting into and out of Makati’s business districts.

The proposal includes the construction of bus stations, as well as traffic-signal systems that can give buses priority at intersections so they spend less time waiting for a green light. The BRT is also being designed for easier access by persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, and other commuters who need barrier-free transport.

Under the proposed arrangement, the private proponent would design, construct, and maintain the project during the concession period before eventually transferring it to the Makati City government.

As of writing, the exact timeline, fares, and station locations have not been specified. Still, a bus that could make Makati rush hour a little less painful? We’re definitely keeping an eye on this one.

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