Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Motorists, commuters gripe on change in 12L jeepneys’ route
AFTER a week’s delay, the experimental rerouting of 12L jeepneys started last Monday.
And while it did not elicit much reaction that day because it was a holiday, motorists and commuters complained yesterday that the change has inconvenienced them.
The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) wants to decongest the V. Rama Ave.-M. Velez St.-Duterte St. junction in Barangay Guadalupe by keeping the 12L public utility jeepneys (PUJs) off the junction.
Citom Executive Officer Arnel Tancinco said the junction has become so congested that long queues of vehicles are normal during peak hours.
Congestion
But as a result, the 145 units plying the 12L route have added to the congestion along N. Bacalso Ave., particularly on the stretch from the Tres de Abril St. junction to the V. Rama Ave. intersection where traffic is always heavy.
“This road has become more congested because jeepneys plying the 12L route are now passing here when they’re supposed to be confined to the Banawa area,” a bus driver said in Cebuano.
Buses traveling to and from southern Cebu use N. Bacalso in going to the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
Jeepney passengers whom Sun.Star Cebu interviewed also said that going to the Capitol area and to Guadalupe has already become circuitous and tiresome for them.
As suggested, PUJs from Punta Princesa traversing Tres de Abril St. on the way back to Cebu Business Park will turn left for Salvador St., and right for Katipunan St.
Instead of proceeding to Banawa, however, they would turn right for Tres de Abril St., left to N. Bacalso Ave., to V. Rama Ave. and right to B. Rodriguez St.
Upon reaching the Fuente Osmeña circle, the PUJs will proceed to Osmeña Blvd., passing by the Cebu Doctor’s University Hospital, and back to the old route for Ayala Center Cebu.
Tancinco had said they decided against adopting another option, which will have the 12L PUJs using Gen. Maxilom and Gorordo Aves., because the said roads are already substantially congested especially on rush hours.
The old route, though, would still be followed by the PUJs in going to Labangon, Tisa, and Punta Princesa from Ayala.
Report
Chief Insp. Jonathan Abella, head of the Cebu City Police Office Traffic Division, said one of his personnel was tasked to observe the situation and make a report to the Citom board, whose members are meeting today.
He said his office is merely implementing the rerouting, and complaints should be addressed to the Citom board or the City Council, which approved the 30-day experimentation.
The rerouting was supposed to start Monday last week but it was postponed because of the lack of road signs that will guide PUJ drivers and commuters. (RHM)
