The interim operations of the EDSA Busway rolled out on Wednesday in a bid to help more commuters along one of the busiest thoroughfares in the metropolis as restrictions in public transport are still being enforced, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced.
The DOTr, along with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LFRB), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), announced the opening of the busway, which they said will complement the reduced capacity of the MRT-3 and its bus augmentation program.
According to the DOTr, 150 out of the 550 authorized bus units were initially deployed on Wednesday to service the EDSA Busway which covered bus stops from Monumento all the way to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
“Bus operators committed to initially deploy 150 bus units starting July 1. This is in addition to the buses deployed under the MRT-3 Bus Augmentation Program. No fare increase shall be implemented,” the DOTr said.
Through the interim operations, buses from Monumento to Quezon Avenue will be using the following bus stops located on the curbside for the meantime to pick-up and/or drop off passengers:
- Bagong Barrio
- LRT Balintawak
- Kaingin Road
- LRT Muñoz Station
- MRT North Avenue Station (Southbound-loading only, Northbound-unloading only)
- MRT Quezon Avenue Station (Southbound-loading only, Northbound-unloading only)
Retaining the existing set-up, buses will shift using the median lanes with the partial operability of the busway section from Quezon Avenue to Estrella.
Upon exiting Estrella, the DOTr said bus units will be allowed to pick-up and/or unload passengers at the following curbside stops from Buendia to the PITX:
- Buendia
- Ayala (Southbound-unloading only, Northbound-loading and unloading)
- Magallanes
- Evangelista/Malibay
- Taft Avenue (Southbound-unloading only, Northbound-loading only)
- Roxas Boulevard
- Macapagal Avenue
- SM Mall of Asia
- PITX
“Buses will be using these curbside stops until the needed bus stops, including lighting, fences, and canopies, are completed, and when the concrete barriers are placed on EDSA’s median lanes,” the department added. (Alexandria San Juan)
