MMDA eyes wheelchair lift for busway stations

MANILA, Philippines — After receiving criticism for an overly steep wheelchair ramp at the EDSA Bus Carousel’s new Philam station in Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officials are now considering wheelchair lifts.

The lift would be attached directly to the footbridge leading to the busway station, officials said.

The idea is more feasible than putting up a wheelchair platform along the ramp, which could block the way for other passengers in the EDSA Bus Carousel using the ramp, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Pasig yesterday.

The MMDA would “consult with architectural firms, present the plan and start the necessary improvements on the ramp in the EDSA-Philam station,” he said.

Artes added that the improvement to the ramp would “have no additional cost to the government.”

According to previous reports, persons with disability, particularly those using wheelchairs, had difficulty in navigating the Philam station ramp.

Artes said the ramp was designed that way due to limitations in height and space at the station.

He pointed out that the elevator attached to the ramp could no longer be raised because the management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) specified a clearance between the elevator and the rail tracks.

He added the ramp could no longer be extended since a column of the MRT-3’s elevated rail tracks could obstruct it. An extended ramp that could go around the column would also obstruct buses plying the EDSA Bus Carousel.

“We admit (the ramp) is not the ideal or perfect design, especially for those using wheelchairs,” Artes said.

However, he maintained that the ramp made it convenient for other commuters to take the EDSA Bus Carousel.

Artes also announced that the MMDA is looking into “improvements” for the Philam station ramp but did not elaborate.