New solutions explored to ease traffic at Ortigas, Naia

THE MANAGEMENT of La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) is in talks with the homeowners and barangay officials of Wack-Wack East, Mandaluyong City, to allow a coaster to traverse subdivision roads as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion in the Ortigas area, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday.

The LSGH will also implement a sequence inside the campus for vehicles dropping off and picking up students based on the staggered class schedule, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Cris Saruca said in a radio program.

Saruca said the MMDA met with LSGH officials last week and the latter agreed to adopt adjustments as the MMDA continues to clear the school perimeter, particularly Ortigas Avenue, of illegally parked vehicles.

The proposal to open subdivision roads will allow a coaster to take a short cut to Connecticut Street and drop off or pick up students at the Greenhills commercial complex.

The MMDA is assisting schools located on major thoroughfares to ease traffic congestion especially on rush hours. Also in Ortigas area, a no-parking policy and a new traffic scheme are being enforced on Poveda Street and ADB Avenue for a smoother traffic flow around Saint Pedro Poveda College.

The Ateneo de Manila University recently concluded a two-week trial of a shuttle service program and is planning to continue and expand it to help reduce traffic congestion on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Its neighbor, Miriam College, has also met with MMDA and expressed interest to implement a similar scheme, Saruca said.

Meanwhile, the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) has met also with the MMDA, the Southern Police District and the airport police department  to intensify clearing operations, particularly targeting illegally parked vehicles, on roads around Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The Avsegroup director, Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, said that apart from the ongoing construction of the Naia Expressway, the main causes of traffic especially along Andrews Avenue, Airport Road, and Naia Road are parked vehicles and undisciplined public utility vehicle drivers, including those of tricycles and pedicabs.

He also noted that the traffic lights at the Naia-Domestic Road intersection were unsynchronized, thus causing long queues of vehicles.

Along Airport Road, the left turn slot to and from Aurora Boulevard might be permanently closed to traffic and U-turn slots may be opened instead, Aplasca added. Erika Sauler and Jeannette I. Andrade