Traffic signal system in north area a priority

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management will prioritize the upgrading of the traffic signal system in major intersections at the city’s north corridor once the City Council approves this year’s second Supplemental Budget.

 Of Mayor Michael Michael Rama’s P500-million proposed additional funding, P27 million is allocated to “realign and rehabilitate certain traffic lights in key intersections in North” in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation next year and the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

 “We understand that most of the venues that the APEC is looking at are mostly based in North. That is understandable considering that our major hotels naa sa North,” CITOM Executive Director Atty. Rafael Yap said

 “We want to enhance our flow of traffic since we want to present our best foot forward when these international delegates come here,” he said.

 In a resolution, the CITOM Board stressed the need to upgrade and update the “obsolete” system considering that the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System was acquired way back in 1991 or 23 years ago under the backing of the Metro Cebu Development Project-3.

 The system is believed to help prevent traffic congestion in major and minor thoroughfares.

 Yap said Rama is asking the national government and the Department of Public Works and Highways to pour more infrastructure projects to Cebu to increase the city’s investments and businesses.

 “If there are national government-funded projects in the city, it will benefit not only the North but network-wide. Also, traffic system in the neighboring cities and municipalities would be improved,” he said.

 In a separate development, CITOM has supported the move of the Regional Development Council to endorse additional route of the Bus Rapid System up to airport and other local government units.

 “The plan to propose additional route for BRT is natural, very welcome initiative and very laudable. Cebu is not just an origin or destination in Metro Cebu, there are also Lapu-Lapu, Talisay…,” Yap said hoping that the Department of Transportation and Communication  would consider the proposal.

RDC’s priority action plan is to widen the BRT route with Bulacao-Talisay; Talisay-Cebu City-Mandaue City; Ayala Center-SM-North Bus Terminal; Talisay City-Airport Express; Lapu-lapu City-Cordova; and Talamban-Canduman-Mandaue.

 The BRT will cover 16 kilometers and will be built in two phases. The first phase will be from Bulacao to the Cebu Business District, with links to the malls Ayala Center and SM City Cebu while the second phase will be from Ayala Center to Talamban.  (FREEMAN)