Traffic experiments set to be permanent

Saturday, May 28, 2011

SEVERAL of traffic experiments currently implemented by the Traffic Management Branch of the Baguio City Police Office will soon become permanent if the City Council adopts them in the form of ordinances.

The Traffic and Transportation Management Committee (TTMC), the city's traffic management policy-making body, already submitted to the City Council its recommendations on the possible adoption of some of these schemes. Road widening was also suggested in some roads.

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The TTMC has recommended a one-way counterclockwise around City Hall with future improvements, such as road widening at the park near the Baguio Emergency Medical Services and installation of traffic signs, pavement markings and barriers.

A one-way counterclockwise flow along Post Office Loop, Session Road, the University of the Philippines, Governor Pack Road and Harrison Road extension was also recommended.

A two-lane inbound direction and one lane for outbound along Marcos Highway from the Legarda Road to Bakakeng Road junction, from 6AM to 9AM with the exception that the middle lane will be converted to outbound direction at peak hours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A two-way traffic scheme, meanwhile, was recommended along Roman Ayson Road toward the junction of Bokawkan.

For Naguilian Road, the TTMC recommended a new scheme. The TTMC said there should be a reduced phasing in sequence of traffic light's cycle time from 3 to 2. Three lanes should also be allocated from PLDT-Bokawkan and Yandoc Street.

To eliminate clogging in that area, the TTMC further recommended for the installation of no loading and unloading signs near Hotel Cosmopolitan.

For vehicles coming from the business district going to Dominican Hill, the recommended taking the San Roque-Quezon Hill Road 2 then to Arciaga Street.

Loading and unloading areas will also be designated along Session Road and the six existing pedestrian crossings will be cut down to three.

Pedestrian lanes that would be retained would be: the Patria de Baguio crossing to KFC, Greenwich going to the steps of the Baguio Cathedral and the corner crossing at Upper Mabini Street near PNB and crossing to McDonald's.