Edsa Busway: A vision of the future

(Conclusion)

In the first part of this series, we presented the catalyst and improvements in public bus transportation on Edsa with the building of a new inner-lane busway, complemented by bus transportation reforms, highlighted by the novel Edsa Bus Carousel Route. These game-changing reforms implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr)-led team headed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade have resulted in significant improvement in bus service.

Buses now run unimpeded by traffic, day and night, rain or shine, unlike before when they mostly stagnated in traffic. The busway is now saving time for commuters, saving lives of sick persons getting to the hospital, helping economic productivity and, finally, removed a big thorn that pestered commuters and authorities for decades.

The implementation of this Edsa busway has broken psychological, technical and policy barriers that held back reforms in the past. With proof of concept, the way is now clear for upgrading the busway to attain the much-coveted gold standard rating of the Institute for Transportation Development Projects (ITDP), a US-based nongovernmental organization that sets standards to objectively evaluate busways and bus service with ratings from bronze, silver and gold.

Former Public Works and Transportation Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus, who built flyovers to transform Edsa and Roxas Boulevard into intersection-free corridors, said: “the busway scheme is the most practical solution ever proposed in a long time to try to put some order in the Edsa traffic.”

But more improvements are needed to address certain deficiencies in this work in progress.

Edsa busway rates high

This early, the Edsa busway and bus service have features entitling it to high ITDP rating in four important categories—busway standards, service planning, infrastructure and station design. Compliance with busway standards garners the highest number of points and the Edsa busway passes four of them: dedicated corridor, busway alignment, off-board fare collection and intersection treatment to eliminate or minimize conflict traffic. Platform level with bus remains noncompliant.

To complement the transformational busway are equally transformational access bridges with concourse for commuters to get to the station platforms. The conceptual design has Filipino-inspired roof profile, while other parts will be modern, open, well ventilated and inviting to commuters. Lifts are a standard feature as are roofs over stairs. These bridges are intended to be iconic structures that, aside from being functional, will enhance the cityscape and instill civic pride.

The introduction of new generation high-capacity buses will greatly increase efficiency and attain optimal passenger throughput. Technological advances in the development of articulated “smart” commuter bus trains have closed the gap with rail trains, such that, increasingly, these buses are becoming the preferred urban mass transit solution on major traffic corridors. The Edsa busway will reach a high level of service with these buses as rolling stock.

The goal is to attain the Gold Rating of ITDP.

Paradigm shift

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been a helpful partner to DOTr in implementing the new busway and can help boost further advancements with a paradigm shift in the allocation of road space away from the long extant car-oriented policy.

Enlightened policy is needed for more road space to widen station platforms, build much-needed stations where the MRT 3 occupies the median and to widen the current very narrow sidewalks to transform Edsa into a walkable, bikeable, tree-lined corridor.

Roads are finite valuable resource of densely populated Metro Manila and must be used to satisfy community rights to move people through mass transit and walkable sidewalks. This is a policy decision that, hopefully, MMDA will soon embrace to effect full and lasting transformation of Edsa.

Mass transit requires less road space for vehicles and this efficiency frees up road space for widening the current narrow sidewalks for landscaping and trees along both sides of the entire 24-kilometer stretch. Doing so will greatly transform Edsa into a softer, greener and walkable avenue at the same level as the great avenues of the world. Aside from aesthetics, walkable streets enhance nonvehicle reliant mobility and lends more vibrancy to the community that leads to higher level of social interaction, commerce, economic growth, employment and property values.

Confluence of events

Currently, there are two contrasting situations in Edsa. The busway is congestion-free, while the car lanes are congested. But a coming confluence of events will greatly contribute to better traffic conditions in Edsa.

The much awaited South Luzon Expressway-North Luzon Expressway Skyway is slated to be completed by December and this will divert vehicular traffic from Edsa. MRT 3 will be fully rehabilitated by the third quarter of June next year and, coupled with the new busway, train and bus services will have more capacity, higher speed and reliability that will draw motorists away from their vehicle. The new Sta. Monica and Pantaleon bridges across Pasig River will, after their completion, likewise divert traffic away from Edsa. More effective vehicle volume reduction measure, such as requiring high occupancy in vehicles, will further reduce the vehicular load.

Interconnecting the busway with rail lines will brighten the future of mass transit. Convenient transfer for commuters at key interconnection points will increase the appeal of mass transit. Live, work and play within large scale mixed-use community, urban dispersal and park and ride facilities at strategic entry points to the city, all will lessen commute, motor traffic and urban congestion.

‘Perfect is the enemy of good’

Voltaire is often quoted, “the best is the enemy of the good.” Having the mindset of striving for perfection can be a barrier to reforms and the excuse for policy inertia. For instance, the Edsa buway has physical obstacles on its right-of-way, such as ramps of flyovers and U-turn slots, but these obstacles are not insurmountable and they should not detract from the full implementation of the busway. Workaround solutions are available and constant tweaking and fine-tuning will improve the new system.

With people of goodwill working together constructively, a better public transport system is evolving. Change is the only thing constant in this world and change is happening. Let us embrace it. INQ

The author, busway advocate Eduardo H. Yap, was governor in charge of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) Traffic, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2015 when he presented his position paper on the traffic and transportation problems of Metro Manila on August 26, 2015, that contained called for a holistic approach with short, medium and long-term solutions including the Edsa busway.