Redevelopment of Session Road eyed

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Two city councilors have proposed the conduct of a comprehensive study for the redevelopment of Session Road for tourism purposes.

           

Councilors Elmer Datuin and Richard Carino in a proposed resolution said it is high time “to consider the redevelopment and upgrade of Session Road to keep up with the present situation and to prepare the city for the future in its development plan.”

          

“The redevelopment may focus on the possibility of having a one-way traffic direction at Session Road with regulated parking, expanded pedestrian walkway, with greeneries and the possibility of removing the center island,” the aldermen noted.

They said the redevelopment project should provide “economic and tourism benefits for a revitalized Session Road with an improved traffic and an increased pedestrian walkability.  The expanded pedestrian walkway will be come comparable to the best walkways all over the world.”

           

 “Experiences from big cities all over the world in streetscape improvement will show that a redevelopment of a principal street to a lesser congested area for traffic and pedestrian will give great benefits in terms of economic and tourism potential,” the aldermen noted.

           

If approved, the comprehensive study will be done through the city planning and development office in collaboration with other departments tasked in urban planning or may also be contracted out experienced urban planners in the city.

            

The aldermen said results of the study will guide the executive and legislative departments in the implementation of the development plan for Session Road.

            

Session Road is a “historical and heritage site of the city being one of the first main streets established and used in the early years of the city.”

           

“Session Road has grown through the years and has become the main hub of the City’s Central Business District with all its commercial establishments apart from being a favorite walking area for local residents, students and tourist,” the aldermen noted.

          

 “The city’s population has increased and Session Road as the principal street cannot any longer cope with the increasing pedestrian users for its walkways and motor vehicles are more often congested as they traverse the two-way vehicle lane,” thus the need for a redevelopment, the aldermen said.

            

The proposal will be discussed by the city council in its next session.