Sunday, August 12, 2007 Citom reroutes 12L jeepneys to solve traffic
TO decongest the V. Rama Ave.-M. Velez St.-Durterte St. junction in Barangay Guadalupe, the Cebu City Council last Wednesday approved a rerouting scheme that prevents 12L Public Utiliy Jeepneys (PUJs) from passing through the area on their way back to Ayala Center Cebu.
Chief Insp. Jonathan Abella, Cebu City Police Office Traffic Group director said they will implement the travel line change starting tomorrow.
City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco said the experimental rerouting will be for 30 days, or upon the completion of their study.
Citom is looking at two options as possible route changes: One, PUJs from Punta Princesa traversing Tres de Abril St. will turn left for Salvador St., left for Katipunan St., right for Tres de Abril St., to N. Bacalso Ave., to V. Rama Ave., and right to B. Rodriguez St.
Option
Upon reaching the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda, the PUJs will join the Gen. Maxilom Ave. traffic for Gorordo Ave. before turning right for Cardinal Rosales Ave. to Ayala.
The second option is that instead of going for Gen. Maxilom after passing through the rotunda, the PUJs will instead proceed to Osmeña Blvd., passing by the Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital, and back to the old route for Ayala.
The purpose of the rerouting is to keep the 145 jeepneys off the junction, which Tancinco said, becomes so congested that long queues of vehicles is normal during peak hours.
The old route, though, will still be following by the PUJs in going to Labangon, Tisa, and Punta Princesa from Ayala.
In its session last Aug. 1, the Citom board endorsed the proposal.
Confusion
Abella said they will implement the first option, and advised the drivers and the public to remember the scheme to avoid confusion.
Also last Wednesday, the council authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enter an agreement with Asiatown I.T. Park Association, Inc. (AITPAI) for Citom to enforce traffic rules and regulations within the I.T. Park.
Although the roads there are privately owned, AITPAI allowed the public, specifically PUJs, in traversing through the Park for Barangay Apas. (RHM)
