EDSA bus lane to be made permanent even after COVID-19 pandemic

If there’s something good to be said about the current COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that the authorities were compelled to finally whip one of the country’s major thoroughfares into shape. Public transport restrictions have enabled them to reconfigure EDSA, with fixed lanes for buses, private vehicles, and even bicycles.

Looks like the EDSA bus lane is here to stay

From the looks of it, the present setup will be permanent for the foreseeable future, especially since the EDSA busway has significantly cut down travel time from 3.5 hours to as short as 50 minutes between Monumento and PITX in Parañaque. Buses plying city routes along the highway will continue to be assigned the leftmost lane, and three leading property firms aim to make it easier to use for the commuting public.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with SM Prime Holdings, D.M. Wenceslao and Associates Incorporated, and Double Dragon Properties Corporation to build bridleways for the bus lane, complete with concourse.

A better commuting experience awaits the riding public

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Busway advocate Eduardo Yap, who conceptualized the project, said the proposed busway bridge with concourse will feature stare-of-the-art architecture, ticketing booths, and turnstiles for the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS). Various ramps and elevators will be installed for use by persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women. The project will be implemented in five locations: SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, Macapagal Boulevard in Aseana City, and at EDSA near the corner of Macapagal Avenue.

These structures are expected to make travels safer and more convenient for the commuting public using the busway stations on a daily basis. Currently, the busway utilizes existing facilities on the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3) line, and these have limited accessibility options especially for PWDs. The best part is, the project will be a donation by the three companies, undertaken at no cost to taxpayers.

Proposed facilities will include dining areas and spacious walkways

The actual project is scheduled to commence within the next two to three months, following the submission of finalized engineering designs and permits, with the actual construction seen to run from six to eight months.

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