MMDA eyeing EDSA on putting MC lane after Christmas

The Metropolitan Manila Developmant Authority (MMDA) today said it is planning to set a motorcycle lane along the 24-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) after Christmas.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that the plan would have to be pushed back due to the expected heavy traffic along Metro Manila's prime thoroughfare during the holidays.

Tolentino said the MMDA will adopt the scheme in EDSA if it proves effective in decongesting traffic and reducing accidents involving motorcycles on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.

The MMDA said more than 220,000 public and private vehicles ply EDSA on a daily basis.

“I think this is the biggest challenge to implement a similar policy at EDSA but if the pilot-project on Commonwealth and Macapagal Boulevard will succeed then we will implement it at EDSA. But this will be after the holiday season, probably early January next year,” Tolentino said.

MMDA traffic enforcers arrested at least 1,000 motorcycle riders for driving outside the designated lanes in the two major thoroughfares.

The agency required those apprehended to attend a 15-minute safety seminar.

It said that its enforcers will start issuing traffic citation tickets with a corresponding P500 fine to violators on October 24.

Complaints ranging from not knowing about the start of the policy as well as designated lane not properly marked forced the agency to adopt some minor adjustments to the new scheme.

Tolentino said the MMDA will also also place additional traffic signs and warnings along strategic areas of Commonwealth and Macapagal Boulevard informing motorcycle riders of the location of the lanes.

The increasing number of fatal road accidents involving motorcycles prompted the MMDA to come up with new traffic schemes on Commonwealth Avenue and Macapagal Boulevard. Aside from designating motorcycle lanes, the MMDA is currently imposed 60-kilometer per hour speed limits on the two major thoroughfares.

The MMDA said that based on data from its Road Safety Unit, accidents involving motorcycles in Metro Manila have continued to increase with 12,656 accidents and 104 fatalities in 2008, 13,561 in 2009 with 105 deaths and 16, 208 with 177 fatalities in 2010.

SOURCE : www.philstar.com

This will start on February 15, 2012. I heard this now in GMA News 11. Today and tomorrow MMDA will monitor and campaign the new policy in EDSA for all motorcycle riders, warning will be implemented but for the succeeding days, P500.00 will be the violation charge/ticket.