Reverse traffic on EDSA busway eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) may enforce counterflow traffic on the EDSA busway to make it dangerous for unauthorized vehicles to pass through the lane.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told reporters there is ongoing discussion within the DOTr to reverse the traffic flow along the exclusive bus lane on EDSA.

Given this, Bautista said unauthorized motorists who plan to enter the busway would think twice about it, because of the possible repercussions of figuring in a road accident.

Bautista said the proposal could also improve convenience and safety for commuters of the carousel buses. He explained that in a reverse traffic system, buses would open their doors right at the platform of the stations, unlike in the current setup where passengers exit on the road.

Bautista said commuters can expect a new system on the busway before the year ends. The DOTr is discussing the details of the plan with bus operators, who reportedly aired their support for it.

“We have a good discussion about the possibility of moving the direction of the busway, so when you are going north, the bus would be on the left side,” Bautista said.

“We asked the opinion of the bus operators, and their initial reaction is that it is a good idea. We want to make the busway really exclusive for buses. And we also want the doors of the buses on the right side for safety considerations,” he added.

On top of this, Bautista said the DOTr wants to reduce the number of protocol plates that may be presented to be able to pass through the busway.

Bautista said the agency may go as far as allowing protocol plates in the busway only if the car is transporting an authorized official. Currently, only the convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice are allowed to use the busway.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has come under fire after the Land Transportation Office identified a company, whose key officials are his relatives, as the owner of a luxury Cadillac Escalade that used the busway illegally.

The vehicle abused the Senate protocol plate “7” to enter the busway.

The Cadillac is owned by Orient Pacific Corp., which is handled by William Gatchalian, the senator’s father.

The busway, a project of the DOTr, is designed to speed up travel within and around Metro Manila by allocating an exclusive lane on EDSA for public utility buses.