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In case you didn’t notice, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has tapped buses to be part of the solution to the overcrowding at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
“Under the MRT Bus Project of the LTFRB which started on Mon, Jul 27, 40 buses will be deployed daily to pick up or drop off passengers at selected MRT stations on Edsa between 6am and 9am, Mon to Fri,” reports Jaymee T. Gamil in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The report noted: “Under a special permit, the MRT buses are exempted from the number coding scheme. They are allowed to ply underpasses and flyovers unlike regular buses, a privilege expected to reduce their travel time by around 30 minutes. The MRT buses ply only the southbound lane of Edsa, picking up passengers from just two points: MRT’s North Avenue and Quezon Avenue stations. There will also be just two drop-off points: Ortigas and Ayala stations.”
Each of the air-conditioned buses can carry around 55 to 60 passengers per trip. They charge fares equivalent to those charged by the MRT between stations.
LTFRB executive director Roberto Cabrera explained, “The rationale behind [the project] is that we, from the Department of Transportation and Communications, would just like to help alleviate the lines that we have along the MRT stations.”
He added: “If you look at the total…MRT [passengers], obviously it will hardly make a dent. But if you look at it from the point of view of even 10 passengers who would like to have a more comfortable [and less crowded] ride, who don’t have time to wait in line or would just like to go to Makati earlier, we’re just offering an alternative.”
As for criticism that the project only means more buses on Edsa and lead to heavier traffic, Cabrera reasoned, “We believe that with proper traffic management, that would be resolved.”
Photo: News clip
