Traffic lights to replace U-turn slots on Katipunan Avenue

We hope this will not be a case of history repeating itself. To ease heavy traffic on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will soon reactivate traffic lights in the area and close down most of the U-turn slots. The U-turn slots were installed, and traffic lights removed, during the time of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, to improve traffic flow in the area.

Cris Saruca of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office told the Inquirer that they have yet to set a date for the reactivation of traffic lights on the busy thoroughfare as the agency was still coordinating with officials of schools in the area such as Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Miriam College and the University of the Philippines (UP).

“When I visited the area last Wednesday, MMDA personnel were just digging up some portions of the road where the automated traffic lights will be placed,” he said.

The MMDA earlier attributed the heavy traffic on Katipunan Avenue to the 80 percent hike in the number of trucks plying the road due to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) “no apprehension policy” for “colorum” trucks applying for a franchise.

Katipunan is considered one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, as it is home to ADMU, Miriam and UP.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino earlier blamed the LTFRB for the worsening traffic situation in the area. This was disputed, however, by Quezon City Police District Traffic Sector 3 head Chief Insp. Erlito Trinidad Renegin who told the Inquirer that the MMDA shared part of the blame because it replaced with U-turn slots the traffic lights in the area under then MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando. Renegin explained that most vehicles take up at least two lanes to make a U-turn.

To solve the problem, the MMDA has decided to reactivate traffic lights on the road, just like it did in three areas along Quezon Avenue.

MMDA Traffic Engineering Center Head Neomie Recio said that the reactivated signal lights were on Banawe Street, Roosevelt and Timog-West Avenues.

She added that based on their monitoring, the move has eased traffic flow on Quezon Avenue although she noted that at times, it remained congested due to illegally parked vehicles and unauthorized jeepney and tricycle terminals in the area.

Recio said the MMDA would deploy tow trucks to Quezon Avenue to get rid of traffic obstructions.

With report by Maricar B. Brizuela