MMDA To Restrict Jeepneys from Crossing EDSA Starting Next Week

Metro Manila Development (MMDA) plans to restrict Jeepneys from crossing EDSA starting next week.

According to MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos, their goal is to regulate the number of jeepneys on the road, not to take them off the streets.  They only plan to limit the number of vehicles on EDSA to help speed up traffic. This will make it easier for passenger buses to travel the EDSA stretch, allowing faster travel time for commuters and drivers on the road.

The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) and Liga ng Transportasyon at Opereytor sa Pilipinas have expressed their support on MMDA's planned restriction. These two groups currently have the biggest number of members who drive through EDSA for their daily route.

A total of 1,000 jeepneys will affected by this restriction.

As of this time, MMDA has yet to sit down with major transport groups to discuss the penalties and fines that will be imposed for violators.

Start of Implementation

According to Orbos, the MMDA would start enforcing the new traffic scheme beginning on the northbound lane of Edsa-Guadalupe bound for Pateros, L. Guinto in Manila and Gate 3 in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Since last week, Orbos, Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, and Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo chair Jerry Sunga have been coordinating on how to clear the inner roads of obstructions within the said areas. So far, MMDA has not given additional information about the alternative routes for the affected jeepney drivers.

MMDA will also create an additional lane for passengers by removing the orange barriers on the northbound lane of Edsa-Guadalupe.

They would also place barriers from SM Mall of Asia to the Pasay Rotunda and EDSA-Magallanes so there will be a lane for jeepneys. This will make the other lanes "free flowing" for other vehicles.

According to Orbos, passenger jeepneys do not have to cross EDSA to reach their destinations. However, Ayala-bound jeepneys, whose terminals are on the other side of EDSA (McKinley Road), would have to be moved to Ayala Avenue.

Other roads that the MMDA plans to restrict will include: Roxas Boulevard to Pasay Rotonda (Edsa-Taft Avenue) in Pasay City; Magallanes, Makati City; Ayala/McKinley Road in Makati City, and Pioneer, Mandaluyong City.