DOTr urged to open more exclusive bus lanes in NCR

Amid a proposal from the MMDA to close the Edsa busway after the capacity of the Metro Rail Transit 3 is expanded significantly, the DOTr issues a statement saying the dedicated bus lane remains one of the most efficient public road transport systems in the NCR. —Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — A group pushing sustainable and inclusive transportation policies called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday to replicate the Edsa busway in other thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR) to make travel faster and easier for more commuters.

“This model of having a dedicated mass transit lane should not stop with the Edsa busway,” AltMobility PH said in a statement.

“Other highly congested corridors such as Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue and Ortigas Avenue Extension stand to benefit from similar high-capacity transit solutions,” it added.

The group said that by replicating and improving the Edsa busway, “we can ensure more Filipinos have access to faster, more efficient mobility options.”

With discussions about the rehabilitation of Edsa ongoing, maximizing the busy thoroughfare’s capacity should be a top priority, it stressed.

“Doing so will minimize disruptions to people’s daily lives and demonstrate the Philippine government’s commitment to inclusive, forward-thinking transport policies,” it said.

AltMobility noted that despite it being Metro Manila’s main artery, Edsa is still not operating at optimum capacity for the movement of people.

This is due to car-centric policies that prioritize low-occupancy vehicles over high-capacity, road-based public transport solutions, it said.

“The Edsa busway has proven that shifting our approach can make a significant impact. By operating in an exclusive lane, the busway can move 10 times more people per kilometer than the status quo of shared traffic lanes—effectively increasing Edsa’s carrying capacity,” it added.

According to the group, removing the lane’s exclusivity, as earlier proposed by some government officials, will result in the busway “ceas[ing] to function as intended, compromising the travel benefits to all road users.”

“We share a common goal: efficient, reliable and inclusive transport solutions that focus on moving more people using fewer vehicles,” it said.