Baguio ‘smarter roads’ plan okayed to ease heavy traffic

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ratified the city council’s “Smarter Roads Ordinance” that seeks to improve traffic flow in the Summer Capital.

Ordinance No. 73, series of 2018, authored by councilors Mylen Yaranon and Benny Bomogao, included in its provisions:  No stopping within 10 meters before and after intersections; use Baguio City Police Office-Traffic Management Unit as a resource to direct traffic in some intersections; reduce the number of one-way streets within the central business district area and implement modern roundabouts at identified critical intersections where applicable.

Also included were implementation of transit lanes, self-enforcing road markings and public transport stops (loading and unloading zones), use of thermoplastic paint for all road markings, location of new pedestrian crossings, changes to promote traffic calming in the CBD and some highways and information sharing of new routing with Google Maps, Waze, and others.

The ordinance directed the city engineering office’s traffic and transportation management division to lead implementation of its provisions.

“Improving our roads or streets and introducing changes in policy will improve traffic flow and thereby ease  traffic congestion in the city,” the measure stated.