Phnom Penh’s experiment in mass transit has ended, with the city halting the 17 buses that have been running along two routes through the city’s center since June 1.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency funded a month-long experiment in June, then handed the project over to the municipal government July 1.
Because the city lost $20,100 during July, the project has been canceled, although there is some possibility a public bus system could be revived in the future, said Nhem Saran, director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation.
Nhem Saran said construction along Monivong Boulevard, the city’s busiest street and one of the bus routes, cut down on ridership and reliability. The July 4 bombings of two hotels on Monivong caused police to shut down a section of the boulevard, further complicating traffic and making the bus less convenient, he said.
JICA official Masato Koto said his organization will present a report on the feasibility of public transportation in Phnom Penh at the end of September.
Nhem Saran said a future system could include routes to areas outside of Phnom Penh, including Takhmau and Pochentong Airport.
