The Department of Transportation (DOTr) in partnership with SM Prime Holdings Inc. yesterday officially started the construction of the Edsa Busway Concourse project.
DOTr led the virtual groundbreaking ceremony of the project to begin the civil works for three concourses to be built at the Edsa Busway stops located at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA, in spaces which were all donated by the SM Group.
The Edsa Concourse project aims to provide safer, more convenient access to the stations of the Edsa Busway, and to give a better commuting experience as these concourses are designed and equipped with ticketing booths, Automatic Fare Collection System turnstiles and concierges, which will allow all transport transactions to take place at the concourses, prior to the onboarding of passengers.
Arthur Tugade, DOTr secretary, conveyed his gratitude for the commitment and partnership extended by other government agencies, and the private sector in its help in realizing this much-needed transformational change in the metro commuting experience.
“Through this initiative, SM Supermalls looks forward to contributing to the vision of DOTr, and its partner agencies and the LGUs (local government units), in providing a more comfortable, efficient and convenient experience for the commuting public,” Steven Tan, SM Supermalls president, said for his part.
As part of the private sector partnership, Eduardo Yap, Busway advocate and chair of the Management Association the Philippines transportation committee and Green EDSA Movement, said the first batch of busway access bridges and concourses is now being constructed.
Upon completion, the daily experience of commuters will rise to a higher level, while Metro Manila will have an iconic public infrastructure that blends functionality with aesthetics and “green” principles, Yap said.
“These reforms consisted of bus franchise reorganization, route restructuring with the introduction of the feeder and trunk line system that is prevalent abroad, the innovative ‘EDSA carousel bus line’, and bus service contracting. These were the complementary measures that render the new busway efficient and effective,” Yap added.
“This new bus system in EDSA and elsewhere in NCR (National Capital Region) is transformational, as well as historic. After many decades of chaotic public transportation, order and system have been restored. These reforms provide the framework for sustainable management of urban traffic congestion and people mobility. Going forward, it would be a matter of proper system management and scaling up capacity to meet demand as conditions allow,” Yap said.
Meanwhile, Mark Steven Pastor, DOTr assistant secretary for road transport and infrastructure, said the government will also partner with DoubleDragon Properties Corp. and DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc. for the construction of Edsa Busway concourses in Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue.
On top of that, DOTr in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will fund the construction of four additional busway concourses located in Buendia, Taft, Roxas Blvd. and Tramo, Pasay.
The Edsa Busway system, a joint project of the DOTr with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, MMDA and DPWH, started its interim operations in June of last year, and was designed and intended to allow faster travel time for commuters, provide a comfortable commute for the Filipinos amid the pandemic and improve mobility along Edsa.
