By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday called for immediate solutions and improvements to the EDSA Busway to improve comfort and accessibility to its commuters.
During an inspection of the EDSA Busway and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) from Ortigas to Monumento, Dizon noted the absence of clear wayfinding or location signs at stations of the busway and the MRT-3, faulty timers at bus stops, inconvenient rail stops, and broken elevators.
He also cited the need for a stricter dispatch system at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and Monumento Station to ensure buses leave on time and avoid clogging at bus stops.
In addition, he saw the need to construct separate busway concourses for passengers of the EDSA Busway and the MRT-3 for easy commute.
“The ultimate fix, which would take anywhere between 10 and 12 months or 14 months, is we have to build separate concourses (for the EDSA Busway),” he said.
He added that the SM Group has already donated two busway concourses, which will be replicated for other EDSA Busway stations.
Bidding will be conducted in May, with construction to commence in the second half of the year, he said.
The DOTR earlier said the operations and maintenance of the EDSA Busway are up for privatization as part of long-term plans for the busway system, with its initial feasibility study to be completed in a few months.
Also on Tuesday, Sweden awarded a 3 million Swedish krona (about PHP16 million) grant to the DOTr to continue the feasibility study for the EDSA Busway for another 12 months. (PNA)
