DOTr bets on MRT 3, busway to ease traffic with Edsa rehab

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista conceded on Thursday that extensive repairs on Edsa this year may cause traffic jams along the busiest thoroughfare in Metro Manila.

But this would also mean more riders for the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) and the Edsa Busway.

“If that [rehabilitation of Edsa] will be done, definitely there will be heavy traffic there, so we’re expecting more people to ride the MRT 3 now because the MRT 3 will not be affected too much by this rehabilitation,” he said.

Bautista said the DOTr was also hoping to complete a concession agreement for the private operation and management of the Edsa Carousel Busway for implementation by the second quarter of the year.

Plans to privatize the Edsa Busway have been in the works since 2022 with SM Property Holdings offering to spend over P300 million for stations in Ortigas Avenue North Edsa, and the SM Mall of Asia

Commuters’ concern

The busway became partially operational even with incomplete facilities, but it carried an average of 325,000 passengers daily in 2022.

Commuter groups are concerned that the privatization of the busway would escalate fare increases, but interested investors said a government subsidy could stem fare hikes.

Bautista said he was confident the total rehabilitation of the 23-kilometer Edsa starting this year would not affect the operation of the Edsa Busway.

“Perhaps on the Edsa Busway, its operations will still be continuous because what will be affected [by the rehabilitation] are the lanes that are used by private vehicles,” he said.

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The Edsa rehabilitation project was planned as early as 2015, but did not materialize after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would further worsen heavy traffic flow on the thoroughfare which might spill over to other roads.

According to Bautista, the DOTr will “work closely” with the MMDA and Department of Public Works and Highways to address traffic issues.

“It is also important that we cooperate with the MMDA so that the operations of the Edsa Busway and our MRT 3 are smooth,” he said.

“The private sector will provide the buses and will operate the system, which would be more beneficial because the buses are uniform. We will also require them to electronically set up trip schedules,” Bautista said.