MMDA expects less road accidents, improved traffic in dry run for 'exclusive motorcycle lane' along Commonwealth

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) expects less road accidents and better traffic flow along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City amid the dry run of the implementation of an "exclusive motorcycle lane."

“Ang inaasahang epekto ng exclusive motorcycle lane sa Commonwealth Avenue ay sana unang-una, mabawasan ang road crash incidents, at pangalawa, maibsan ang daloy ng trapiko sa Commonwealth Ave,” MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said at a press briefing on Friday.

(We expect that the exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue to reduce road crash incidents and ease the flow of traffic.)

Citing the data of the MMDA Traffic Engineer Center in 2022, Carunungan said around 154,369 motorcycles pass through Commonwealth Avenue every day.

“Nakita rin ng aming Traffic Engineer Center ay tumaas po ng 46.10% ang mga motorsiklo na bumabalagtas sa Commonwealth Avenue. Karagdagan dito, sa 2022 may average na limang motorcycle related road crash incident sa Commonwealth kada araw,” she said.

(Our Traffic Engineer Center also logged a 46.10% increase in motorcycles passing along Commonwealth Avenue. In 2022, there were an average of five motorcycle related road crash incidents per day along Commonwealth Avenue.)

The dry run for the exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth started on March 9 and will continue until March 19. It will then be fully implemented on March 20.

“Para po sa mga lalabag sa dry run, hindi pa pinagmumulta ang mga ito, kung hindi pinagsasabihan lang pagkatapos po ng dry run implementation at information campaign ang mga lalabag o ang mga lalabas sa kanilang exclusive lane ay kailangan magbayad ng P500,” she added.

(For those who will commit a violation during the dry run, they will not be fined yet. They will only be reprimanded. After the dry run, those who violate the exclusive lane will have a penalty of P500.)

Carunungan said the MMDA also addressed the concerns of motorists during the first day of the dry run.

“Nakinig din po kami sa mga concerns ng mga motorista, isa sa mga concerns nila ay yung visibility ng traffic enforcers. Dahil doon inutos agad ng aming MMDA chairman Romando Artes na gumawa ng placard na pwedeng hawakan ng aming traffic enforcers para mas makita po ng mga dumadaan sa Commonwealth Avenue kung ano ang mga designated lanes para sa kanilang sasakyan,” she said.

(We listened to the concerns of the motorists, one of the problems raised was the visibility of the traffic enforcers. MMDA chairman Romando Artes already ordered our traffic enforcers to hold a placard so they can be easily seen when they guide motorists.)

Carunungan added that the MMDA also coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in fixing the potholes along Commonwealth Avenue.

The MMDA spokesperson said they also placed proper road markings and signage on footbridges.

“Sa dry run ngayon, araw araw pa rin kami nag-aassess ng situation at nakikinig rin naman po kami sa mga concerns ng motorista,” she added.

(We are still assessing the situation every day, and we are also listening to the concerns of the motorists.)

Meanwhile, she said the MMDA’s traffic district heads will also have a meeting to discuss the preparations and deployment of the agency’s personnel in terminals for the upcoming Holy Week. —VAL, GMA Integrated News