BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Faced with persistent traffic congestion and a surge in tourism, the Baguio City government is reviving ambitious plans to introduce elevated trains and cable car systems as part of its modern transportation strategy.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong confirmed last week that the city is revisiting these unsolicited public-private partnership (PPP) proposals to supplement the upcoming Baguio City Integrated Terminal.
Key Infrastructure Developments The revival of these transit plans coincides with a major investment in the city’s gateway:
- Baguio City Integrated Terminal: Developer Megawide Construction Corp. recently signed a P1.2-billion lease to build an integrated terminal at the entrance of Marcos Highway. Similar to the Parañaque Integrated Exchange Terminal (PITX), this facility will serve southbound buses and house small city buses to ferry passengers downtown.
- Cable Car Integration: Megawide has hinted at the possibility of integrating an “in-city cable car system” as a separate project. Discussions are also ongoing with French engineering consultant Egis regarding cable car feasibility.
- Elevated Railway: While cable cars are on the table, the city is reportedly prioritizing a longer railway route within the city to move larger volumes of people more efficiently across the mountainous terrain.
The Need for Modern Transit Baguio’s unique geography presents significant challenges for traditional road expansion:
- Narrow Network: The city relies on a limited 190-kilometer road network that was not originally designed for modern traffic volumes.
- Vehicle Density: Baguio currently has approximately 59,000 registered vehicles and accommodates an average of 28,000 visitors daily, leading to chronic bottlenecks.
- Low-Carbon Goals: These transit projects are centerpieces of the city’s “low-carbon transport initiative,” aimed at reducing the environmental impact of private vehicle use.
Overcoming Previous Hurdles This is not the first time these ideas have been proposed. Similar plans from 2019, including an Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) system designed by the DOST and a cable car plan by Robert John Sobrepeña, previously stalled due to safety concerns, alignment issues, and funding.
Mayor Magalong believes that the current partnership with Megawide and international consultants provides a more viable path forward. The goal is to create a seamless system that encourages tourists and business travelers to park their private vehicles at the city limits and use efficient mass transit to navigate the “Summer Capital.”