MMDA experts to help address Baguio traffic

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor-elect Benjamin B. Magalong disclosed a team of traffic experts from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be in the city during the second or third week of July to observe and study the traffic situation and make scientific recommendations on how to address the monstrous traffic jams around the central business district area and other major roads in the city.

The incoming local chief executive said the MMDA experts will be bringing along with them their proven traffic simulation software instrumental in the gathering of data and identifying possible interventions on how to ease the traffic congestions around the city.

“Traffic is a big issue that must be addressed by scientific interventions and not by mere observations alone,” Magalong said.

He added that the MMDA team of traffic experts will be in the city for a week to observe and gather data, including the proposed interventions by the traffic simulation software, on the prevailing traffic after which they can jointly analyse doable recommendations for immediate implementation to ease the traffic around the city.

According to him, one of the initial solutions he is considering is addressing the imbalance of motor vehicles plying the major streets in the city considering that based on a recent manual count, there are around 60,000 motor vehicles traversing Banao Street daily compared to the over 34,000 motor vehicles plying Session road and Magsaysay Avenue.

Based on the latest data obtained from the Land Transportation office (LTO) Baguio, there are more than 57,600 motor vehicles that are registered in the city last year compared to the over 44,000 registered motor vehicles the previous year.

In the nearby capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet, there are more than 45,000 registered motor vehicles in the province last year compared to the only more than 35,000 registered motor vehicles the previous year.

Magalong reported MMDA will also be donating some second-hand streetlights which could be repaired to replace the old streetlights of the city government, especially if the same cannot be calibrated.

He said that MMDA has the best traffic engineer in Asia who could recommend solutions to the city’s traffic situation to provide convenient travel to both residents and visitors, especially when they go around the different tourist destinations situated in the different parts of the city.

Magalong recommended that the head of the city’s newly created traffic and transport management division under the City Engineering Office should undergo the required trainings with the MMDA traffic academy to be acquainted with the latest scientific and technological interventions applicable to city traffic situation.

Magalong earlier stated that there are quick ways that his administration will implement once he will assume office to address the traffic congestions in the different parts of the city pursuant to his election promise.