MMDA eyes school shuttle service to ease traffic

MORE TIME Transport operators roll out a protest caravan May 7, 2015 in Quezon City to seek a delay in the enforcement of the age limit on vehicles used as school shuttles. LYN RILLON

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has reiterated its proposal for schools to implement a shuttle service for their students to prevent heavy traffic in surrounding areas.

“If we insist on having one vehicle per student, there [will really be a buildup] at the [school] gates. We will have a hard time  managing traffic,” MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos told reporters at the recent launch of the agency’s mobile app iTow.

He cited in particular a school in Mandaluyong City near Edsa, an area which he described as critical because of the high volume of vehicles. Although he did not name the school, he was apparently referring to La Salle Green Hills.

“[Generally, the volume of vehicles during school days is] plus 20 percent during rush hour, starting at 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 3 p.m. up to 7 p.m.,”  Carlos said.

“The best way is to reduce the number of vehicles and one of the solutions is to have a sharing system,” Carlos said, adding that the shuttle service proposal was made by the MMDA several years ago. However, it was rejected by school officials who expressed concern about students’ safety.

Under the “Drop and Ride” program of then MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando in 2002, students would be dropped off at designated areas where they would be picked up by buses and brought to school. At the end of classes, they would be taken to the drop-off points by the same buses where they could be fetched by their parents. –Kristine Felisse Mangunay