DOTr mulls adding motorcycle lane to help solve traffic problem along Edsa

TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista said the department and other government agencies are mulling of adding a motorcycle lane to alleviate the traffic problem along EDSA.

Bautista said that based on a study, around 170,000 motorcycles use EDSA daily.Bautista added the DOTr already has initial discussions with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on having a dedicated lane for motorcycles along the major thoroughfare.

“‘Yung EDSA po natin four lanes lang po yan. ‘Yung isang lane meron na tayong busway. Doon sa right side na portion ‘yung bicycle lane. We are looking siguro po ‘yung katabi ng bicycle lane ang gawin nating motorcycle lane,” Bautista said.

“Kasi ngayon makikita n’yo sa EDSA, lahat ng lane kinakain [ng motorcycle]. We’re working with MMDA on how we can improve the traffic situation relating to motorcycles,” he added.With a motorcycle lane in EDSA, the government also aims to address the economic cost of traffic, the transport chief added.

Bautista cited a 2012 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), stating that the economic cost of traffic is P2.4 billion a day in Metro Manila.