Skyway opens new toll plazas; commuters, drivers not impressed
If you’re wondering why traffic was so heavy last January 29, we may have an answer for you. Skyway just opened up a new northbound toll plaza, and people are still getting used to them.
Skyway O&M Corporation, the operator of the South Metro Manila Skyway Project (which we fondly call the Skyway), recently opened the Runway Exit Toll Plaza. Located a few kilometers before the NAIA off-ramps, these were meant to “facilitate faster toll collection on the Skyway’s elevated section.”
CAUSE OF THE JAM. The Runway Toll Plaza, a recent addition to the Skyway, saw several thousand vehicles stuck in traffic last Monday, January 29. Many pointed to Runway A (left) as the main cause, since most vehicles that use the Skyway paid in cash instead of the ETC.
The new toll plaza consists of two gates. Runway A (the nearer of the two) has four lanes with five tellers each and is dedicated to cash payments. Think of SM Supermarket’s basket lanes, but with cars instead of baskets.
Runway B has three lanes and makes use of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, otherwise known as the RFID tags.
— SKYWAY SOMCO (@SkywaySOMCO) January 24, 2018
Advisories went out on their official Twitter account (@SkywaySOMCO) as early as January 24 informing people who paid to use the Skyway with cash about what they had to do with their receipts and QR Code stubs (which people usually left behind): present both at Runway A. This is seen as the cause of last Monday’s traffic jam, which started as early as 5:30 am.
This lead to thousands of vehicles stuck in traffic, seen as far back as the South Luzon Expressway’s Southwoods exit. Netizens poked fun at the traffic jam, calling it “elevated EDSA.”
@SkywaySOMCO this additional toll booth at skyway just to remit tickets is another lame solution to slowdown traffic going to Edsa. But with this addtl 30min to remit the ticket, what’s the point of using the skyway? Might as well go through SLEX. Libre pa. #perwisyolangalamnyo
— Erik Matti (@ErikMatti) January 28, 2018
@SkywaySOMCO This new toll plaza is causing heavy traffic NB skyway @MMDA on a Sunday! I’m sure tomorrow will be crazier! pic.twitter.com/9vEbMsBZ23
— DJ M.O.D. (@dj_mod_) January 28, 2018
They say in life we can always choose our reactions. I passed thru Skyway's new tollway for the 1st time, traffic was worse than usual but I can also say Ive never felt more welcome w/ people waving their arms, ushering me along.😫@SouthSnippets pic.twitter.com/myL3AbgccR
— get_goofy (@getgoofy) January 28, 2018
Traffic was so heavy last Monday that it prompted Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon to request for a briefing regarding the new toll collection system
Muntinlupa Rep Biazon wants Skyway to explain new toll collection system that caused traffic jams | via @1rgcruz pic.twitter.com/jwAa8DGSqb
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) January 30, 2018
A statement was later issued by Skyway O&M apologizing for the hellish traffic everyone experienced.
— SKYWAY SOMCO (@SkywaySOMCO) January 29, 2018
Skyway O&M assured the public that things will get better once everyone gets used to the new system. “We are positive that once many have adjusted and adapted to the new toll collection system, the benefits of these enhancements to the Skyway will be felt by a great number of people,” Skyway O&M said in a statement.
Source: Interaksyon, GMA News Online via Unang Balita, SkywaySOMCO on Twitter
