Tugade urges car owners to take public transport to reduce EDSA traffic

The volume of cars driving through EDSA is significantly increasing in the past few days as the National Capital Region (NCR) is now placed under less strict General Community Quarantine (GCQ) classification. Adding to the volume of traffic along EDSA is the start of collecting toll fees at the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway. 

The volume of cars along EDSA is increasing once again

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos previously said that vehicle volume on EDSA was averaging 405,000 before the pandemic. Abalos then noted that EDSA is now around 399,000 vehicle volume, which is 6,000 vehicles shy of the pre-pandemic average.   

“Before pandemic, vehicle volume on EDSA was averaging at 405,000 but now, it is about 399,000. However, southbound travel speed is faster now at 27 kilometers per hour, compared to 11 kilometers per hour before the pandemic,” said Abalos.

Private car owners are encouraged to take public transport [Photo: patrickroque01]

To address the increasing volume of cars plying EDSA, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade believes that public transportation is one of the solutions in decongesting traffic along the said thoroughfare. Tugade is encouraging private car owners to take public transport instead of traveling around the metro using their personal vehicles. 

Tugade is urging car owners to use the EDSA Busway and the MRT-3 as means of getting to and from their respective destinations to reduce traffic congestion along EDSA, especially during rush hour.  

“Kaysa dalhin ang kanilang pribadong sasakyan, patuloy kong hinihikayat ang publiko na gamitin ang EDSA Busway at ang MRT-3, nang sa ganon ay makatulong sa pagbabawas ng pagbigat ng daloy ng trapiko sa EDSA, lalo na tuwing rush hour,” said Tugade. 

(Instead of bringing their private cars, I am encouraging the public to use the EDSA Busway and the MRT-3 to help decongest traffic along EDSA, especially during rush hour.)

DOTr Sec. Tugade is urging motorists to use EDSA Busway, and MRT-3

The DOTr Secretary added that taking public transportation will also offer less driver fatigue, and fewer trips to fuel stations that will eventually translate to more savings for the motorists.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) stated that the EDSA Busway has more than 300 buses on service on a daily basis. The agency also shared that it is expecting to add more buses along the EDSA Busway to further accommodate passenger demand.  

Tugade added that the travel time of buses traveling at the EDSA Busway is fast. He said that buses from Monumento can reach the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in 45 minutes to one hour.  

Aside from the EDSA Busway, Tugade is reminding everyone that the MRT-3 has now significantly improved its services. He added that the MRT-3 will further improve its services once the rehabilitation and maintenance works are completed by December.

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