The EDSA Carousel is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line that is part of the 35 bus routes in Metro Manila.[3][4] The line has an exclusive right-of-way on a dedicated bus lane called the EDSA Busway,[4][5] separated from normal road traffic in EDSA by concrete barriers and steel bollards.[6] Interim operations began on June 1, 2020, to augment MRT Line 3, with full operations beginning later on July 1, 2020, when Metro Manila was placed under a general community quarantine. Intended to be largely served by bus stops along the median, some stops are temporarily served by bus stops on the curbside.[7]
E | |
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Overview | |
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Locale | Metro Manila |
Transit type | Bus rapid transit |
Number of stations | 21 |
Daily ridership | 41,000 to 60,000 (2020 daily ridership)[1] 160,000 (June 2021 record high ridership)[2] |
Operation | |
Began operation | July 1, 2020 |
Number of vehicles | 550 authorized buses |
The line is operated by the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation and ES Transport and Partners Consortium under the supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).[8]
History
Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila.[9] Traffic congestion has always been a concern in the area and since 2007, the MMDA ordered buses to stay on the two right-most lanes of the road.[10] Plastic barriers were later added in 2016.[11] A proposal for a bus rapid transit system, using funds from the World Bank was approved in 2018.[12] EDSA was intended to be the second phase of the implementation of the bus rapid transit system, following Quezon Avenue.[13] Line 2, known as the Central Corridor, will be eventually realized as the EDSA Carousel.
On March 16, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) imposed a community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted almost all public and private transportation using EDSA. This paved the way for the immediate construction of the EDSA Busway. Traffic in the EDSA Busway is restricted to authorized buses as well as emergency vehicles like ambulances.[14] The EDSA Carousel line is distinct from the World Bank-funded BRT project.[15]
On July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel line, also designated as Route E, started its interim operations with a total of fifteen stops in a dedicated bus lane completed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.[16][17]
Route
The line initially had 15 bus stops on its interim launch,[16] with additional stops added in the following months.[18][19]
- Monumento
- Bagong Barrio
- Balintawak
- Kaingin Road
- Roosevelt
- North Avenue
- Quezon Avenue
- Nepa Q-Mart
- Main Avenue
- Santolan
- Ortigas
- Guadalupe
- Buendia
- Ayala
- Magallanes
- Evangelista/Malibay
- Taft Avenue
- Roxas Boulevard
- Macapagal Boulevard
- SM Mall of Asia
- PITX
Station layout
The line utilizes existing footbridges along EDSA by constructing additional stairways to the center island of EDSA. It also uses some stations of the MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 by making use of the train stations' emergency exit stairways.[18] Some bus stops, such as the ones in Ayala and Taft Avenue, still use the existing stops on the curbside.
On November 16, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings, DM Wenceslao and Associates Inc., and Double Dragon Properties Corp. for the construction of EDSA busway bridges. The bridges will be shouldered by the three companies, seeking to provide safer, convenient, and PWD-friendly walkways for the riding public using the EDSA Carousel stations, and for pedestrians crossing EDSA.[20]
The pedestrian bridges were conceptualized with concourses, concierge, ticketing booths, and turnstiles for the automated fare collection system. Ramps and elevators would also be available to provide accessibility for PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant passengers. The structures will be strategically located at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, Macapagal Boulevard in Aseana City and the corner of EDSA and Macapagal Boulevard.[20][21] The groundbreaking ceremony for the EDSA Busway Concourse Project was held on May 18, 2021. It is expected to be completed in March 2022.[21]
Issues
- On October 1, 2020, the "No beep card, No entry" policy has been implemented to minimize physical contact between commuters and public transport personnel to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19 and to allow for more seamless and faster transactions to trim down the queuing of passengers. The new policy has drawn flak from commuters due to the current price of the card and its immediate implementation.[22] Within the first week of its implementation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended the mandatory use of beep cards after AF Payments Incorporated refused the government's request to waive the ₱80.00 cost of beep cards.[23]
- Multiple concrete barrier-related accidents were recorded since the EDSA Carousel's operations started. According to MMDA traffic czar Edison Nebrija, most of the drivers who crashed their vehicles against the barriers were speeding, drunk, or asleep behind the wheel. Some of the concrete barriers have already been replaced with steel bollards following a series of accidents.[24]
References
- ^ "LTFRB eyes more passengers on buses to cut long Edsa Busway queues". INQUIRER.net. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Ramos, Mariejo S. (June 19, 2021). "More commuters seeking free bus rides". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Zurbano, Joel (June 24, 2020). "EDSA Busway seamless and faster—DOTr". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ a b Zurbano, Joel; Amojelar, Darwin (July 2, 2020). "EDSA Busway rolls out with 12 stop stations". Manila Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Subingsubing, Krixia (July 2, 2020). "Edsa 'transformation' now comes with loops, 'carousel'". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- ^ "New Edsa bus stops 80% complete: MMDA". Philippine News Agency. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ "Interim operation of busway along 'new Edsa' begins". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ "Resolution No. 81 Series of 2020" (PDF). Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. May 30, 2020.
- ^ Peter Uckung (February 22, 2012). "History in Asphalt (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) is the longest road in Metro Manila. Peter Uckung, senior researcher at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), explains how this thoroughfare came to be.)". Business world Online. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ "MMDA Resolution No. 03-28". Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
- ^ Zarzuela, Maricar B. (January 12, 2016). "Private cars can't enter Edsa bus lanes starting Jan. 18". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Zhang, Jane; Llorito, David (March 16, 2017). "Philippines: First Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit Line to Benefit Thousands of Commuters Daily". www.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ "Project Details - BUILD". www.build.gov.ph. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ "MMDA: Gov't men top violators of Edsa busway rule". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ "San Miguel plans bus rapid transit on Skyway 3". Rappler. April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ a b Jul 1, Mia Rodriguez; 2020. "The New EDSA Busways: Bus Routes, Stops + More". SPOT.PH. Retrieved July 14, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^ San Juan, A.D. (September 4, 2020). "DOTr, MMDA to open 3 additional median bus stops on EDSA Busway". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "3 EDSA Busway stops open today". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "3 additional median stops open on EDSA Busway - UNTV News". UNTV News. September 7, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ a b San Juan, Alexandria Dennise (November 16, 2020). "DOTr signs EDSA Busway bridge agreement". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ a b Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (May 19, 2021). "Construction of 3 concourse of EDSA Busway starts". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ "EDSA busway passengers must pay fares via beep cards starting Oct. 1". cnn. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Marquez, Consuelo (October 4, 2020). "Mandatory use of beep cards along Edsa busway halted — DOTr". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ "LOOK: EDSA concrete barriers replaced with steel bollards". GMA News Online. Retrieved October 5, 2020.