EDSA bus lane walkway, extended train hours in the works - Dizon
Metro Manila, Philippines - Commuters taking the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) busway may soon benefit from a dedicated walkway, while train operating hours may be extended, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Dizon said he is looking to upgrade the special bus lane by replicating the model of the North Edsa station in Quezon City and Ortigas in Pasig City, which have dedicated concourses donated by the private sector.
Dizon said construction may begin in the second half of the year, with operations eyed next year.
“I’m going to push them to push the timeline as fast as we can. Hopefully by this time next year, around February, March next year bago na mga ang istasyon sa busway natin [we have new busway stations],” he said.
Dizon took the bus himself and inspected busway operations.
He said he will also order installing clear-way finders at stations as a short-term plan.
Enforcers will be deployed per station to make sure buses will leave on time.
“May mga bus, humihinto ng more than one minute, sometimes two minutes… I understand kasi gusto punuin ng driver ang bus but that is not the purpose of the busway. Ang busway dapat iyan ay tuloy-tuloy,” he said.
[Translation: There are buses that stop for more than one minute, sometimes two minutes... I understand because the driver wants to fill the bus, but that is not the purpose of the busway. The busway should be continuous.]
Dizon echoed his predecessor’s plan to privatize the busway maintenance and operations but has yet to provide a definite timeline.
Former Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier planned to have the bus lane privatized by 2026.
On Tuesday, Swedfund and Team Sweden, institutions promoting sustainable investments, donated P16 million to the DOTr for the EDSA carousel’s improvements.
Open to extending train hours
Meanwhile, Dizon said he is also open to extending the operating hours of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit lines.
He said he will meet with train operators to discuss the matter.
“Why can't we do it until midnight and then let's see. Kung kaya midnight why can't we do it until 2 a.m.?” Dizon said.
[Translation: Why can't we do it until midnight and then let's see. If we can do it at midnight, why can't we do it until 2 a.m.?]
“We always have to find a way to push the envelope a little bit. And this is all for passenger welfare,” he added.
In December 2024, a party-list group launched a signature campaign to extend train operating to 12 a.m.
