Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City (PNA photo by Ben Briones)
MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing to put up designated stops for public utility vehicles (PUVs) along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City in line with the setting up of an exclusive motorcycle lane on the major thoroughfare.
In a news release, the MMDA said the agency's acting chair Carlo Dimayuga III and acting General Manager Baltazar Melgar met with the representatives of Quezon City local government unit and various jeepney operators last Tuesday to discuss the designating bus and jeepney stops to ensure safety of road users.
"There should be designated bus and jeepney stops for passengers as part of road safety. It’s about time to instill road discipline among all passenger vehicles," Dimayuga said during the preliminary meeting at Barangay Commonwealth Hall.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Pasang Masda, ACTO, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and UV Federation.
Dimayuga also sought the assistance of the city government and jeepney operators in identifying the loading and unloading areas along Commonwealth Avenue.
“Through this, we could strategize on how the PUVs could maneuver to their designated stops. We would like to confine pedestrians to designated loading and unloading areas,” Dimayuga said.
Pasang Masda president Obet Martin welcomed the plan and thanked Dimayuga for the support to the jeepney operators’ sector.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Chairman Dimayuga for addressing the concern of jeepney operators. We consider it as a welcome development,” Martin said.
Earlier, the Metro Manila Council, composed of Metro Manila mayors, agreed in principle to establish an exclusive motorcycle lane in Commonwealth Avenue to avert road accidents.
In the MMDA Resolution No. 22-15, the right outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue will be designated as an exclusive bicycle lane.
The second lane and third lane of the same avenue will be designated as exclusive for public utility vehicles (for jeeps, UV Express, buses) and motorcycle lanes, respectively.
All the other motor vehicles will use the remaining lanes of Commonwealth Avenue. (PNA)
