MMDA: Proposed bus lane phaseout to ‘free up EDSA space’

FILE: USUAL TRAFFIC. Heavy traffic builds up along Edsa as thousands of private vehicles speed toward North Avenue while carousel buses, pick up passenger on the busway lane near Quezon Avenue in Quezon City on Tuesday (Feb.2, 2021). The Edsa busway system aims to help transport commuters in Metro Manila amid the general community quarantine still being enforced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The planned removal of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) bus lane is expected to “free up space” in the major thoroughfare, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes confirmed that the eventual phaseout of the EDSA bus lane was discussed during a meeting convened by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday.

Artes said the proposal was made amid the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) current expansion of the current capacity of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).

“Magdadagdag daw po ng isang bagon, so that’s another 30 percent additional. Inaayos lang yung infrastructure to accommodate ‘yung mas mahabang bagon (They say they will add one more train car, so that’s another 30 percent additional. The infrastructure is just being fixed to accommodate the longer train car),” he said in a Palace briefing.

“Kung maka-accommodate naman sa taas, sa tren ‘yung mga pasahero, we don’t see the need na magkaroon pa ng bus kasi exactly the same route nga siya. In fact, mas bentahe pa nga ang train dahil mas marami siyang stops kaysa sa bus carousel (If the passengers can be accommodated at the top, on the train, we don’t see the need to have a bus because it’s exactly the same route. In fact, the train is more advantageous because it has more stops than the bus carousel).”

Artes said having an EDSA bus lane is “more inconvenient,” since the MRT could also accommodate bus passengers.

He added the DOTr has a plan to have a “seamless transfer from different train system” by linking the MRT to the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

“Ang suggestion po kahapon ay kung ma-accommodate din ng MRT ‘yung mga pasahero ng bus carousel, since repetitive siya, (Yesterday’s suggestion was that the MRT could also accommodate the passengers of the bus carousel, since it is repetitive), same line,” Artes said. “So, kung magagawa po iyan, ma-free up po ‘yung isang lane (So, if that can be done, one lane can be freed up).”

Another suggestion is to convert the EDSA bus lane into a “special lane” that can be used by “high occupancy vehicles,” Artes said.

“Kung tatlo o apat ang sakay mo, ikaw lang ang puwedeng gumamit ng special lane na ‘yun (If you have three or four people on board, you are the only one who can use that special lane),” he said.

The EDSA will undergo rehabilitation to improve the riding quality of the major thoroughfare in the country’s metropolis.

Artes said the EDSA repair in March will push through.

“So, kapag nagawa po ito, lalagyan ng magandang aspalto, mas bibilis po iyong daloy ng mga sasakyan (So, when this is done, good asphalt will be laid, the flow of vehicles will be faster). So, hopefully it will improve ‘yung (the) traffic situation sa (on) EDSA, once the rehabilitation ay makumpleto (is completed),” he said.

“Ang ideal lamang po diyan ay 250,000 vehicles per day. Ang problem po, I think ‘yung last count namin is nasa 470,000 na tayo, which is almost double noong carrying capacity niya that’s why talagang nagkaka-clog up (The ideal is 250,000 vehicles per day. The problem is, I think our last count is at 470,000, which is almost double its carrying capacity, that’s why it’s really getting clogged up).”