MMDA to create school bus drop-off points to ease traffic

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to create drop-off points for school bus services to ease congestion in perennially traffic-prone areas near school zones in Metro Manila. In a statement Sunday, MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said the measure is intended to lessen the number of vehicles traveling through known traffic prone areas such as Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, Ortigas Avenue in San Juan and other roads located in the university belt. Fernando said that under the measure, all privately owned vehicles and school buses will be given designated strategically located areas where they could drop the pupils and students. “If the proposal pushes through, the volume of traffic is expected to decrease by more than 50 percent on traffic prone areas that are leading to schools and universities" Fernando said. Fernando said they have yet to meet with officials of private universities and exclusive schools to explain the measure. He said they have already sent their request to officials of private universities and exclusive schools regarding the measure to designate drop-off points for school services, but they have not responded yet. Aside from designated drop-off points for school service, Fernando has earlier proposed the construction of additional loading bays at the Ateneo campus in Quezon City to ensure an unimpeded flow of traffic that stretches back outside the school grounds, especially during heavy rains on Katipunan Avenue. The MMDA noted that private vehicles owned by students of Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College in Quezon City often have only one or two students as passengers. Fernando also suggested that additional lanes be constructed along Ortigas Avenue near the La Salle Greenhills to decongest the area, especially during school days. He cited that during peak hours, vehicles fetching and taking students from La Salle occupied two of the three lanes of Ortigas Avenue resulting in monstrous traffic at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas. At least 1,500 traffic personnel have been dispatched by the MMDA to conduct sidewalk clearing operations, flood control works and traffic management near the school zones in Metro Manila. - GMANews.TV