‘Last mile’ truck route eases traffic from NLEX to QC — MMDA

Braving the Manila traffic situation (Photo courtesy of PanoBaMagBlog on WordPress)

MANILA — The implementation of the “last mile” truck route has resulted to smoother traffic situation along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to A. Bonifacio Ave. in Quezon City, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday.

Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operations, said traffic became light from NLEX to main roads leading to the Manila port since Sept. 8 due to the “last mile” truck routes.

The MMDA implemented the “last mile” truck routes after a traffic gridlock occurred last Sept. 5 at the southbound lane of NLEX and roads leading to the Port of Manila.

Designated truck routes are A. Bonifacio Ave. coming from NLEX, passing through C-3 Road in Caloocan City, straight to Road 10 to the Manila port.

Trucks coming from Cavite Expressway may take Roxas Blvd. to the port area, while trucks from Southern Luzon may pass through Osmeña Highway-Quirino to Roxas Blvd.

Carlos said 1,003 trucks were tagged with “lasmayl” stickers last week, which are valid until Sunday.

According to Carlos, the last mile route has special privilege to the truckers who are allowed to travel on the main roads of Metro Manila to their respective warehouses on a 24-hour basis.

The 24-hour scheme would allow trucks coming from the Manila port to get to their warehouses in the metropolis even during truck-ban hours as long as they carry cargo for shipment to their designated end-points.

However, Carlos said the 24-hour “last mile routes” shall not be applicable along Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) where a total truck ban is strictly observed; España (from Quezon Blvd. to Rotonda); Ortigas (from Santolan to Legarda); and Taft Ave. where the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. truck ban is implemented.

The last mile truck routes will be implemented from Sept. 8 to 22.

Carlos said the agency will leave it to the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to decide whether to extend the “last mile” routes scheme.

The MMC, which is composed of 17 Metro Manila mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

The MMDA explained that in transportation, the “last mile” refers to the movement of people and goods from a transport hub to its final destination. From the point of view of truckers, this refers to the movement of cargo trucks from the port to their warehouses inside and outside Metro Manila.