Truck lane restriction on C5, Katipunan stays till July 2015

Citing the drop in the number of vehicular accidents on C-5 Road and Katipunan Avenue, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is extending for six months the one-lane policy for trucks on these two major thoroughfares.

The extension was approved during a meeting Friday of the Special Traffic Committee of the Metro Manila Council, MMDA’s policy making body composed of the 17 mayors of the local government units making up the capital.

The MMDA introduced the restriction on Sept. 1 to alleviate traffic congestion on the two roads, which was mainly blamed on the increasing number of cargo trucks taking these routes.

The implementation period was originally set to end after Jan. 31, 2015, but Friday’s council meeting approved its extension up to July 31 next year.

MMDA assistant general manager Emerson Carlos said the policy had been deemed a success based on the reduced number of vehicular accidents.

“Before the implementation of the one-truck-lane policy, there was an average of 27 accidents daily,” Carlos said. “But now it is reduced to single digits.”

Under the policy, cargo trucks with a gross weight of more than 4,500 kilos are allowed only on the innermost lane. The restriction is imposed daily, including Sundays and holidays, during the window period of the regular MMDA truck ban which is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Along with this measure, the MMDA also closed U-turn slots along C-5 and Katipunan, except those located under flyovers, and replaced them with signalized intersections where traffic flow is managed using traffic lights.

Violators of the truck lane policy face a fine of P2,000 and repeat offenders may be considered for blacklisting by the MMDA.

The move drew mixed reactions from motorists, some of whom complained that traffic got worse because of it while others observed that it achieved the desired results.

Among those who hailed it were companies, not only those located along C-5 and Katipunan, whose officials cited the improved traffic conditions in these areas.