Beginning of the end for provincial bus terminals

Hopefully by May next year, EDSA would be free of provincial bus terminals.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando said yesterday the development of two hubs at the northern and southern points of EDSA would be underway at the start of the new year.

The hubs intend to replace existing provincial bus terminals scattered along the major thoroughfare. One would be situated at the North Avenue depot of the Metrostar Express or MRT-3 in Quezon City and the other under the Magallanes Interchange in Makati City.

As soon as the two hubs are completed, all provincial bus terminals along EDSA would have to move into the new sites, "whether they like it or not."

Traffic is usually congested near the bus terminal areas because of the presence of vehicles dropping off and picking up passengers.

The project was introduced as a means to eliminate one of the major causes of traffic on EDSA as well as to reduce the volume of vehicles plying the major thoroughfare.

Fernando explained that the two areas were selected because of their proximity to the MRT-3 stations.

He pointed out that the passengers going to and from the hubs would have easy access to the MRT-3 and city buses. The two sites are big enough to handle all the buses and passengers, he added.

The MMDA chief said provincial bus operators can continue to make use of their soon-to-be abandoned terminals since they can serve as maintenance bays for their fleet.

Fernando has actually identified three more areas to be developed as central hubs for provincial buses.

He said a Public Estates Authority property in Baclaran, Pasay City would be developed into a hub, but only after they find a way to extend the Light Rail Transit all the way to Roxas Boulevard.

For the northern district, Fernando said the area of Sangandaan in Caloocan City is being eyed. The hub would be strategically located near the Philippine National Railways, LRT and MRT-3 stations. The MRT-3 station has yet to be developed as part of its expansion from North Avenue to Monumento.

The third hub would be situated in Marikina City near the LRT-2 station which is already being developed. This terminal will serve the eastern section of Metro Manila.

The three possible hubs will take more than a year to develop, depending on how fast the proponents of the mass transit projects complete their tasks.

Fernando said funding for the projects would most likely come from the national government.