Great! 2 new EDSA Busway stations opened, many others improved
The EDSA Busway just got 2 new stations to service commuters! A few days ago, the Philam QC and Kamuning Stations were inaugurated and opened by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Coinciding with the new stations’ opening, the DOTr also announced that some of the existing stations have been improved by way of new safety and security implements.
2 new EDSA Busway stations, elevators, ramps, and surveillance cameras
Photo: Department of Transportation
The EDSA Busway has become an integral part of Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare. Numerous stations are spread along (almost) its entire length and in the years since they have become a staple and standard, more stations have sprouted while a lot of the older ones needed some refurbishing and improvement.
Along with the opening of the Philam QC and Kamuning stations, the former EDSA Busway station mainly features a ramp for PWDs and wheelchair-bound individuals, and alongside the Monumento, Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, and Guadalupe had elevators installed, while other existing stations including Guadalupe, Santolan, Balintawak, Bagong Barrio, Monumento, Ayala, Buendia, Kaingin, Nepa Q-Mart, Quezon Avenue, Roosevelt, Roxas Boulevard and Tramo were also enhanced with the installation of a Smart Traffic Surveillance System.
Photo: Department of Transportation
“The EDSA-Philam station features elevators or manlifters to provide accessibility and convenience to passengers, especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Four other footbridges, particularly stations in Monumento, Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, Guadalupe, have three elevators or manlifters each to encourage more passengers to ride the EDSA Busway,” said MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes.
“The EDSA busway boasts of a smart traffic surveillance system where 166 CCTV cameras are installed, 21 with artificial intelligence or AI technologies, along the entire Busway route from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard, to monitor the time allowed for buses to load and unload passengers as well as drivers’ violations intended to make commuter trips faster and more efficient,” he added.
Photo: Department of Transportation
During the ceremony, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista expressed his gratitude to the MMDA for supporting the projects of the DOTR in bringing comfort and convenience to the passengers. “The installation of man lifters is aimed to reach the DOTR’s objective to provide a comfortable, affordable, safe, and secure, accessible travel experience to passengers, especially to senior citizens, persons with disabilities,” said Bautista.
As it stands, the grander scheme of the aforementioned projects includes and involves the construction of new pedestrian footbridges for Balintawak, Santolan, and Guadalupe Stations; rehabilitation of existing pedestrian footbridges at Monumento, Bagong Barrio; construction of PWD Ramps, catch basins and storm drain pipes; provision of pressurized washer for the concrete barriers.
Good on you both! We all hope that these improvements – and more importantly, constant and consistent maintenance – of the EDSA Busway stations keep on coming!
