Commuters of the EDSA Busway inaugurated the new SM North EDSA Busway concourse and station on Thursday, marking a step forward in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) efforts to reduce daily travel time and improve the overall commuting experience.

“Time is extremely important. The sad part is we don’t have enough time now — our people no longer have the time,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in Filipino, referring to the daily struggles of commuters caught in EDSA traffic.

In a departure from the typical ribbon-cutting ceremony led by officials, Dizon insisted that commuters themselves handle the ribbon-cutting for what he described as a “state-of-the-art concourse” built for those who endure long, time-consuming commutes.

“This is for the commuters. This project from SM isn’t for the DOTr but for the commuters,” Dizon said during the inaugural event.

Dizon added that the DOTr aims to shorten each commuter’s travel time by at least an hour or two, giving them more opportunity to rest and be with their families.

“It’s the President’s instruction. We need, in some way, to provide our people with additional time. That’s what this busway is giving,” he said.

Donated by SM Prime Holdings Inc., the SM North EDSA Busway concourse features well-lit walkways, escalators, elevators, and security systems, along with facilities designed to accommodate persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, and other vulnerable commuters. Dizon noted that the concourse will serve as a template for future EDSA Busway stations.

He also emphasized that the EDSA Busway will continue operating, even during the planned rehabilitation of the major thoroughfare.

“The busway won’t disappear. We will improve it further. We will speed it up. We’ll continue enhancing our EDSA Busway while EDSA is being rehabilitated,” he said.