Efficient mass transport system will solve traffic woes — solon

For the chairperson of the transportation committee of the House of Representatives, an “efficient mass transportation system” would solve the country’s traffic woes, not the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) traffic scheme.

“If we are implementing that HOV, maghahanap lang ng ibang lugar na pagdaraanan so ang  (motorists will only try to find alternate routes so the)  effect nun would be clogging of sidestreets  They are clearing Edsa of traffic but again, we are also creating traffic in other areas,” Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento told reporters in an interview.

“Pag efficient ang mass transportation syempre hindi na magdadala ng mga sasakayan ang mga private owners (If mass transportation is efficient, people will no longer drive cars),” he added.

The lawmaker also thinks that his colleagues would file a resolution to oppose the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) HOV scheme. He also said his committee could launch a moto propio investigation on the issue.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a member of the MMC, launched a dry-run of its HOV traffic scheme in a bid to encourage motorists to share a ride or car pool.

The scheme bans driver-only vehicles from Edsa – from the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City all the way to Magallanes interchange in Makati City from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

READ: MMDA sets weeklong test for Edsa ban on ‘singles’ | ‘Singles’ clog Edsa side streets

Many lawmakers have opposed this scheme,  including senators who signed a resolution to halt its implementation.

READ: Driver-only ban won’t solve gridlock, possibly unconsitutional – solons

Instead of banning “singles” on Edsa, Samar Rep. Edgar Sarmiento said the MMDA should first consider synchronizing the flow of buses plying Metro Manila’s most important highways.

More than the volume of private vehicles, Sarmiento said lack of discipline remains the biggest cause of Metro Manila’s “carmageddon” and buses “are the biggest culprits.”

He also suggested an enhanced bus segregation scheme which would stop the practice of bus crowding in loading and unloading zones which turn into chokepoints especially during rush hours.

A “uniform end-to-end dispatch control points” should also be set up so that Edsa buses will have an organized loading and unloading system, according to Sarmiento.

The lawmaker noted that the country is losing an estimated P3 billion a day because of Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock.

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