MMDA planning carpool revival

The MMDA won't stop finding ways to solve the notorious EDSA traffic. (Bing Tuazon via Google Maps)

A carpooling program is being studied anew as part of the overall plan to solve the traffic gridlock on major thoroughfares, particularly along the 23-kilometer stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Jojo Garcia said the agency continuously tinkers with the best policy to solve traffic problems amid complaints from motorists and the riding public.

Volume reduction is the order of the day, according to Garcia, since vehicles increase daily by 1,000. Violators are also being apprehended to help ease congestion.

“Our traffic enforcers are apprehending traffic violators and those who are obstructing secondary roads thus Edsa is moving though not very fast,” Garcia said.

A technical working group is drafting a plan to re-introduce carpooling as a way to reduce the volume of vehicles, similar to the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) scheme last year that was met with protests.

The HOV sought to ban driver-only vehicles along EDSA during the weekday rush hours―7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. After the dry run, the HOV plan was indefinitely suspended.

As of now, the Highway Patrol Group is helping the MMDA man the EDSA traffic while vehicles parked on side streets are being towed or clamped.