Traffic and road train project

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Driving in this summer capital has gone from bad to worse. Since I live in the capital town of nearby La Trinidad, Benguet, it is a nightmare every time I go behind the wheel. Last Friday before press time, I spent almost one and a half hours on the road going to Baguio considering the road widening project along km 3 and telephone wires which collapsed from electric poles and suddenly found their way down the street.

                        ***

Almost everyday when I head home to La Trinidad, these past days, it is the same nightmare. So I would not be so stressed while driving, nowadays, if I won’t have to move that much in Baguio, I take a jeep or a cab and take a nap until I reach the city. I find it a lot more convenient, considering I don’t have to spend a lot of time looking for a parking space.

Nowadays, people I know who work in Baguio say that’s what they also do. They say they don’t have  to spend so much on gas whose price is slowly but surely creeping up once again.. If more drivers would just take the jeep, maybe traffic will ease, but then, people still find comfort when they are inside their vehicles and don’t have to be seated beside a drunken hobo whose smell could reach up to high heavens. 

I have many stories on traffic but I won’t bore you with these since I talked about the matter in previous columns.

                        ***

Suffice to say that the planned mono-rail transport system which the Department of Science and Technology hopes to run in this mountain resort could be a great help in easing worsening traffic situation.

If everything goes as planned for the project, according to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the city will soon have an alternative mode of transportation which is environment friendly and cost efficient.

The DOST is coming up with a feasibility study on automated guideway transit (AGT) or road train for Baguio central business district as another mode of transport for city residents.

Domogan said there is no word yet with regards the study but he was hoping it will be finished soon.”
“We requested that the study will be expanded to cover the adjoining municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISST) last year that it why it is taking a little longer,” he said.

                        ***

The idea of a mass transport system for the summer capital was hatched in 2013 after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the DOST and the city government to formally start a joint endeavor of conceptualizing an alternative mode of transportation system as possible solution to pollution and traffic woes.

The project is headed by the DOST through the Metals Industry Research and Development Center in consultation with the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

The AGT or road train technology wasreportedly designed by Filipino engineers and scientists at UP and DOST –MIRDC.
The train is designed with fully automated coaches that can hold passengers from BLISST areas and run on rubber tires instead of metal wheels. 

The results of the study will be presented to the BLISST municipalities and other concerned agencies and stakeholders when finished.

                        ***

Meanwhile, Domogan urged cooperation amongstakeholders with authorities like the police during the recent transportation and traffic management committee meeting at city hall.      

A technical working group was created to oversee proposals to solve the traffic tangles, or at least minimize such occurrences during long weekends or big events.

Accordingly, the opening parade of Panagbenga 2015 on February 1, served as a test.

The mayor earlier asked possibility of using KennonRoad as a one-way passage to or from the city; and Marcos highway, the usual two-way, in full coordination with officials, and police force of the municipalities of Tuba, Benguet; Rosario, La Union, and Sison, Pangasinan.

He also admitted that the influx of vehicles to Baguio during the holidays was “unexpected.” The mayor was stuck in traffic that time.The occurrence should not be repeated, he said. Alternate routes to tourist spots should also be looked into, the mayor said; such as those to Mines View Park, Philippine Military Academy, John Hay, Baguio Country Club, Mansion House, Lourdes, Dominican Hill and the newest attraction in Sto. Tomas, Sitio Pungayan.

Staging areas and change of routes during big occasions, for several trunklines including that of Pacdal - Mines View, Magsaysay-Trancoville and La Trinidad lines shall be embodied in a forthcoming Administrative Order, it was known.

Express routes for some public utility vehicles is expected, the mayor said, to minimize on-road parking.

The use of private spaces including road portions for parking during emergency occasions, the need for permanent reflectorized signs to be provided by the Department of Public Works and Highways was also discussed in the meeting.

The mayor also cited need for volunteers to man the traffic during long weekends, and big events, including emergencies. They should be ready to act in case of traffic chokepoints and gridlocks, he said. 

 Suggestions for the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba and Tublay expansion through the circumferential road outer ring could help solve traffic woes, officials said.

They agreed parking spaces along the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Quezon Elementary School, Baguio City National High School (BCNHS), City Hall, Burnham Park and other available areas shall be looked into. Road side parking will also be studied.

 The one-way traffic scheme along Naguilian road, Queen of Peace, Queen of Apostles and other roads implemented during Nov. 1 shall also be studies with the city’s traffic scheme, the mayor said.

According to Baguio City Police Office Traffic head, EvelioDegay, the horrendous traffic last December was due to long weekend/vacation, fuel price rollback, opened Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, lifting of the number coding, and tourists wanting to see the fictional La Presa, a movie site at Sto. Tomas.

Meanwhile, people are complaining some taxi drivers are not honoring the P10 plug-down price rollback.

Complainants should immediately report these notorious drivers to authorities so they would be meted the proper fines.