EDSA Carousel

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EDSA Carousel
 E 
An EDSA Carousel bus in Caloocan
Overview
LocaleMetro Manila
Transit typeBus rapid transit
Number of stations21
Daily ridership41,000 to 60,000 (2020 daily ridership)[1]
160,000 (June 2021 record high ridership)[2]
Operation
Began operationJuly 1, 2020; 17 months ago (2020-07-01)
Number of vehicles550 authorized buses

The EDSA Carousel is a bus rapid transit (BRT) line that is part of the 35 bus routes in Metro Manila.[3][4] The line has an exclusive right-of-way on a dedicated bus lane called the EDSA Busway,[4][5] separated from normal road traffic in EDSA by concrete barriers and steel bollards.[6] Interim operations began on June 1, 2020, to augment MRT Line 3, with full operations beginning later on July 1, 2020, when Metro Manila was placed under a general community quarantine. Intended to be largely served by bus stops along the median, some stops are temporarily served by bus stops on the curbside.[7]

The line is operated by the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation and ES Transport and Partners Consortium under the supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).[8]

History[]

Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila.[9] Traffic congestion has always been a concern in the area and since 2007, the MMDA ordered buses to stay on the two right-most lanes of the road.[10] Plastic barriers were later added in 2016.[11] A proposal for a bus rapid transit system, using funds from the World Bank was approved in 2018.[12] EDSA was intended to be the second phase of the implementation of the bus rapid transit system, following Quezon Avenue.[13] Line 2, known as the Central Corridor, will be eventually realized as the EDSA Carousel.

On March 16, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) imposed a community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted almost all public and private transportation using EDSA. This paved the way for the immediate construction of the EDSA Busway. Traffic in the EDSA Busway is restricted to authorized buses as well as emergency vehicles like ambulances.[14] The EDSA Carousel line is distinct from the World Bank-funded BRT project.[15]

On July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel line, also designated as Route E, started its interim operations with a total of fifteen stops in a dedicated bus lane completed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.[16][17]

Route[]

The line initially had 15 bus stops on its interim launch,[16] with additional stops added in the following months.[18][19]

Station Connections Location
Monumento ManilaLine1Logo.svg Monumento
Bus interchange  1  2  3  17  20  21  22  Monumento 		Caloocan
Bagong Barrio Bus interchange  3  20  21  22  Bagong Barrio Quezon City
Balintawak ManilaLine1Logo.svg Balintawak
Kaingin Road none
Roosevelt ManilaLine1Logo.svg Roosevelt
Bus interchange  4  19  Roosevelt
Bus interchange  32  WalterMart North EDSA
North Avenue 3 North Avenue
Bus interchange  4  19  32  North EDSA
ManilaLine1Logo.svg37 MMS  North Triangle Common Station
Quezon Avenue 3 Quezon Avenue
Bus interchange  5  6  7  Eton Centris
 MMS 
Mega Q-Mart none
Main Avenue
Santolan 3 Santolan
Ortigas 3 Ortigas
Bus interchange  11  Robinsons Galleria 		Mandaluyong
Guadalupe[a] 3 Guadalupe
ferry/water interchange Pasig River Ferry Service: Guadalupe
5 Guadalupe
Monorail SkyTrain 		Mandaluyong–Makati boundary
Buendia 3 Buendia Makati
Ayala 3 Ayala
Bus interchange BGC Bus:  WX01   EX01   L01   NX01   NR01  EDSA Ayala
Bus interchange  14  15  16  Glorietta 5
Bus interchange  33  35  Ayala
Magallanes 3 Magallanes
Philippine National Railways (PNR).svg EDSA
Bus interchange  14  15  Chino Roces Avenue
Bus interchange  15  16  33  35  Magallanes
Taft Avenue 3 Taft Avenue
ManilaLine1Logo.svg EDSA
Bus interchange  17  18  Taft Avenue 		Pasay
Roxas Boulevard Bus interchange  2  Heritage
Macapagal Boulevard none
SM Mall of Asia Bus interchange  2  6  13  SM Mall of Asia
PITX Bus transport  2  6  13  18  23  24  26  27  28  29  30  PITX
ManilaLine1Logo.svg MMS  Asia World 		Parañaque
Notes
  1. ^ Guadalupe bus station is located on Guadalupe Bridge.

Station layout[]

Monumento station

The line utilizes existing footbridges along EDSA by constructing additional stairways to the center island of EDSA. It also uses some stations of the MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 by making use of the train stations' emergency exit stairways.[18] Some bus stops, such as the ones in Ayala and Taft Avenue, still use the existing stops on the curbside.

On November 16, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings, DM Wenceslao and Associates Inc., and Double Dragon Properties Corp. for the construction of EDSA busway bridges. The bridges will be shouldered by the three companies, seeking to provide safer, convenient, and PWD-friendly walkways for the riding public using the EDSA Carousel stations, and for pedestrians crossing EDSA.[20]

The pedestrian bridges were conceptualized with concourses, concierge, ticketing booths, and turnstiles for the automated fare collection system. Ramps and elevators would also be available to provide accessibility for PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant passengers. The structures will be strategically located at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, Macapagal Boulevard in Aseana City and the corner of EDSA and Macapagal Boulevard.[20][21] The groundbreaking ceremony for the EDSA Busway Concourse Project was held on May 18, 2021. It is expected to be completed in March 2022.[21]

Issues[]

  • On October 1, 2020, the "No beep card, No entry" policy has been implemented to minimize physical contact between commuters and public transport personnel to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19 and to allow for more seamless and faster transactions to trim down the queuing of passengers. The new policy has drawn flak from commuters due to the current price of the card and its immediate implementation.[22] Within the first week of its implementation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended the mandatory use of beep cards after AF Payments Incorporated refused the government's request to waive the ₱80.00 cost of beep cards.[23]
  • Multiple concrete barrier-related accidents were recorded since the EDSA Carousel's operations started. According to MMDA traffic czar Edison Nebrija, most of the drivers who crashed their vehicles against the barriers were speeding, drunk, or asleep behind the wheel. Some of the concrete barriers have already been replaced with steel bollards following a series of accidents.[24]

References[]

  1. ^ "LTFRB eyes more passengers on buses to cut long Edsa Busway queues". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Ramos, Mariejo S. (June 19, 2021). "More commuters seeking free bus rides". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Zurbano, Joel (June 24, 2020). "EDSA Busway seamless and faster—DOTr". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Zurbano, Joel; Amojelar, Darwin (July 2, 2020). "EDSA Busway rolls out with 12 stop stations". Manila Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Subingsubing, Krixia (July 2, 2020). "Edsa 'transformation' now comes with loops, 'carousel'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "New Edsa bus stops 80% complete: MMDA". Philippine News Agency. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Interim operation of busway along 'new Edsa' begins". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Resolution No. 81 Series of 2020" (PDF). Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. May 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Peter Uckung (February 22, 2012). "History in Asphalt (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) is the longest road in Metro Manila. Peter Uckung, senior researcher at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), explains how this thoroughfare came to be.)". BusinessWorld. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  10. ^ "MMDA Resolution No. 03-28". Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  11. ^ Zarzuela, Maricar B. (January 12, 2016). "Private cars can't enter Edsa bus lanes starting Jan. 18". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  12. ^ Zhang, Jane; Llorito, David (March 16, 2017). "Philippines: First Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit Line to Benefit Thousands of Commuters Daily". World Bank. World Bank. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Project Details - BUILD". Build, Build, Build: Philippine Infrastructure Transparency Portal. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  14. ^ "MMDA: Gov't men top violators of Edsa busway rule". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  15. ^ "San Miguel plans bus rapid transit on Skyway 3". Rappler. April 26, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Rodriguez, Mia (July 1, 2020). "The New EDSA Busways: Bus Routes, Stops + More". SPOT.PH. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  17. ^ San Juan, A.D. (September 4, 2020). "DOTr, MMDA to open 3 additional median bus stops on EDSA Busway". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Villanueva, Ralph Edwin. "3 EDSA Busway stops open today". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  19. ^ "3 additional median stops open on EDSA Busway - UNTV News". UNTV News. September 7, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  20. ^ a b San Juan, Alexandria Dennise (November 16, 2020). "DOTr signs EDSA Busway bridge agreement". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (May 19, 2021). "Construction of 3 concourse of EDSA Busway starts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  22. ^ "EDSA busway passengers must pay fares via beep cards starting Oct. 1". CNN Philippines. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  23. ^ Marquez, Consuelo (October 4, 2020). "Mandatory use of beep cards along Edsa busway halted — DOTr". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  24. ^ "LOOK: EDSA concrete barriers replaced with steel bollards". GMA News. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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