Free toll on Skyway Stage 3, odd-even scheme during EDSA rehab — DOTr, MMDA

The government has come up with five initial interventions to ease the woes of commuters and motorists alike with the impending major rehabilitation of EDSA.

On Monday, Transportation Secretary VInce Dizon said that among such interventions is the waiving of toll in parts of Skyway Stage 3 starting July or August.

“‘Yung segment lang kung saan ide-detour ‘yung mga sasakyan. Hindi na sila kailangan dumaan ng EDSA, aakyat nalang sila sa Skyway,” Dizon said at a press conference.

(It will only be in the segment where the vehicles will be detoured. They no longer have to pass through EDSA, and just go up on the Skyway.)

He said the DOTr will also deploy 100 additional bus units along the EDSA busway to encourage the public to commute instead of riding private vehicles.

There will also be additional 4-car train sets on Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) to increase the capacity of the rapid system that runs along EDSA. X-ray scanners in all stations of MRT 3 will also be removed to decongest queues.

Odd-even scheme

On the part of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), chairman Romando Artes said that they will implement a 24-hour odd-even scheme limited to EDSA only.

“Ang bawal po sa EDSA, ‘yung 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 na ending plate ay bawal ng Monday, Wednesday and Friday. ‘Yung 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 ay bawal ng Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday po, libre po gumamit ng EDSA ang lahat ng sasakyan,” Artes said.

(Vehicles with 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 ending plates are not allowed on EDSA on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Those with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 ending plates are not allowed on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. On Sunday, all vehicles are free to pass through EDSA.)

The scheme will begin on June 16, with the first week being a dry run. During this period, Artes committed that no penalties will be imposed to erring motorists, but they will be given notices.

He clarified that the odd-even scheme will also be initially implemented for 24 hours, but the MMDA plans to provide a window period from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. later on.

With this plan, the MMDA chief believes that there will be a 40% reduction of vehicles on EDSA while the reconstruction is ongoing.

“Kung maglilibre ang Skyway ay makaka-reduce tayo ng between 10-20% volume sa EDSA. Kung sasamahan ‘yan ng odd-even scheme na additional 40%, ine-expect natin na mas bibilis ang daloy ng traffic at hindi magkakaron ng carmageddon sa EDSA, at tataas ang travel speed,” Artes said.

(If the Skyway will be toll-free the traffic will be reduced between 10-20% volume on EDSA. If that is accompanied by an odd-even scheme that may also reduce traffic by 40%, we expect that the flow of traffic will be eased and there will be no carmageddon on EDSA, and travel speed will increase.)

Artes said that provincial buses, trucks, and other big vehicles will be temporarily banned from entering EDSA from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Bike lane separators will also be removed along EDSA, while an exclusive motorcycle lane will be opened for riders.

Alternate routes

There will also be alternate routes that will be opened while the rehabilitation is in progress. Clearing operations will be conducted regularly in these routes to remove any obstructions that may further cause traffic.

The rehabilitation of EDSA is expected to last until 2027, with its preparatory works set to begin on the night of June 13, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Monday. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News