The Department of Transportation (DOTr) stated on Thursday the idea of reversing the direction of the EDSA Busway to prevent the illegal entry of motorists into the busway.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista floated this idea following the controversial entry of a white SUV owned by Orient Pacific Corporation on November 3. Bautista stated that he had discussed the plan with several bus operators, who were open to the proposal.
"Alam mo we had a very good discussion about a possibility of moving the direction of the busway, instead na papuntang North nandito sa right side, it can be on the left side," Bautista told reporters.
"Alam mo it's a very good idea, although we have asked opinions from the operators, nagusap na kami the other day if they can give us their positions. Although ang initial reaction nila is it's a very good idea," Bautista explained.
This adjustment would mean that northbound buses would move against the usual flow of traffic on the busway lane.
Bautista noted that this change would benefit passengers, as most bus doors along EDSA are on the right side. This would allow passengers to get on and off directly onto the center island, avoiding the need to cross in front of buses.
However, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acknowledges DOTr's good intentions, it raised concerns that buses moving in opposite directions could increase the risk of accidents.
The EDSA Busway, also known as the EDSA Carousel, was created to provide more efficient public transportation along the busy EDSA corridor. This busway uses the innermost lane (next to the MRT-3 tracks) exclusively for buses, separated from other vehicles, allowing for faster and more reliable travel times for commuters.
