Following the proposed LSGH-Ortigas traffic scheme, the MMDA is now looking at possibly looking for a similar scheme to improve traffic flow along Katipunan Avenue. Specifically, the entry and exit of vehicles to the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) campus make for massive gridlock since the resumption of classes, and ways are being looked into to address this problem.
“Adjustments” being considered by MMDA to ease traffic along Katipunan
Photo: Don Artes
MMDA Acting Head Romando “Don” Artes announced that following consultations with school officials of AdMU, Miriam College, and the University of the Philippines Diliman, agency General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana and Assistant General Manager for Operations Asec. Gelo Vargas themselves conducted an inspection of the Katipunan traffic situation last week. During the early morning inspection, Lipana stated that the agency is studying measures to mitigate traffic as it has observed worsening traffic congestion in the area, especially during rush hours.
“We are looking at adjusting Ateneo de Manila’s entrance gate for vehicles without stickers to accommodate more vehicles that would lessen traffic congestion in Katipunan Avenue,” he said.
Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority
Lipana also said that the agency is studying the utilization of the service road near Ateneo Gate 2 (from Marikina) for vehicles. It is currently being used by pedestrians only. The MMDA GM said that vehicles from the northbound direction turning left to enter Ateneo are occupying three lanes, affecting those going straight southbound.
“We are also mulling on limiting the lanes they use into two during rush hours by putting traffic cones,” Lipana later added.
In Artes’ online post, the Acting Chairman also said they are studying limiting entry into AdMU’s Gate 3. The line(s) of vehicles that wish to enter the said gate take up to three lanes and severely affect the southbound flow along Katipunan.
Photo: Metro Manila Development Authority
According to data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, there is a recorded daily average of 2,757 vehicles traversing Katipunan northbound towards Commonwealth from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, while 6,636 vehicles are going southbound towards Aurora Boulevard. On afternoon peak hours from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, 4,854 vehicles were recorded going northbound while 5,697 were traveling southbound.
Numbers don’t lie, and for those who do take Katipunan daily, these figures only reinforce the fact that “hellish” may be an understatement to describe the traffic jams. If the scheme that the MMDA found might work for LSGH, we truly hope that the scheme they come up with will help make traffic in, out, and around the AdMU campus better, too. Regardless of what school zone or area, no one wants to get stuck in traffic so early in the morning, right? Right?
