October 11, 2016

Latest Traffic Schemes in Metro Manila

Everyone knows how heavy traffic can get in Metro Manila, especially along EDSA, C5, and the roads leading to and out of its constituent cities. Christmas is only two and a half months away, which will only make things worse.

To solve the impending traffic jams, the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-ACT), composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), along with the local government units have come up with ways of decongesting our roads.

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NOT FOND OF GOOGLING? We’ve compiled the latest traffic schemes in Metro Manila. Image by Mark Balmores, grabbed from Manila Bulletin

So you don’t have to go digging through the internet, here’s a list of the latest traffic schemes in Metro Manila:

No more window hours

If you’re like everyone else who owns (and tries to use) their car daily, you should be more than familiar with the term “window hours”. It’s a 5-hour window between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm everyday when you won’t be apprehended for violating the number coding scheme. However, as of yesterday (Oct. 10), that happy 5-hour period will be gone… for the next three and a half months (October 17 to January 31, to be exact).

Number Coding is back in Paranaque City

Paranaque used to be an alternate route for people coming from and going to the South without needing to go through SLEX or Skyway. This, however, has resulted in the city’s streets becoming more and more congested. In a bid to decongest his city, Mayor Edwin Olivarez decided to bring back the Number Coding Scheme and apply it to the entire city. Window hours were set between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm after some interest groups protested the lack of window hours prior to its re-implementation.

UV Express allowed in EDSA (again) with conditions

UV Express vans have become a major form of transportation for most Metro Manila commuters. They go from one point to another with hardly a stop along the way, even if you’re packed like a can of sardines. Just imagine how people felt when the LTFRB decided to ban them from using EDSA… until they decided to lift the ban. Yes, they’re back along EDSA, but can only go through these routes:

South to/from Makati: Skyway and Arnaiz St.
South, Northeast (Fairview), and East to Cubao: C5 to Aurora Blvd
East to/from Makati: Kalayaan Flyover and Kalayaan Ave.
North: Balintawak Interchange (drop-offs only at MRT North EDSA Station or LRT Roosevelt Station)

Source: GMA News Online, The Philippine Star

Marcos Highway Re-routing

Thanks to the ongoing LRT2 extension project from Ligaya, Pasig City to Masinag, Antipolo City, Rizal, traffic along Marcos Highway is heavier than usual. To solve this, the MMDA re-routed traffic along Marcos Highway like so:

Cubao or Katipunan to Antipolo: take Aurora Blvd., right at Katipunan, C.P. Garcia Ave. (C5), left at Ortigas Ave. Extension to destination and vice versa; take A. Bonifacio Ave. (to Marikina City proper), straight to Sumulong Hwy. to destination and vice versa
Antipolo to Quezon City: take Ortigas Ave. Ext., left at Kaytikling towards Taytay Palengke, East Bank Service Rd., left at Legaspi Bridge, left at C. Raymundo to destination and vice versa
Cainta, Rizal to C.P. Garcia, Quezon City: from Felix Ave., left at Kaginhawaan St./Magsaysay St., right at Amang Rodriguez Ave., left at Calle Industria to C.P. Garcia to destination and vice versa
Cainta, Rizal via Valley Golf to Cubao, Quezon City: from Ortigas Ave. Ext., left at Don Celso Tuazon Ave., on to Sumulong Hwy. to destination and vice versa

Source: MMDA

Closure and/or removal of U-turn and zipper lanes

i-ACT made several changes early in September that’s sure to affect your daily commute.

Southbound vehicles looking to make a U-turn at the northern end of EDSA just became a no-no after i-ACT decided to close the U-turn slots near TriNoma after West Avenue to SM City North EDSA.

Getting out of Rockwell also became harder if you’re taking the Rockwell Flyover, as they’ve taken away the counter flow lanes, a.k.a. zipper lanes, along that flyover.

North Road in Cubao, Quezon City is no longer an option if you’re planning to take EDSA, as it’s now a one-way street, only accessible if you’re coming from EDSA.

Source: Philstar.com