BAGUIO CITY’S legislative body has passed on first reading a proposed ordinance adopting the proposal of Joseph Edison Claridades to improve the traffic flow in the city.
Authored by City councilors Maria Mylen Victoria Yaranon and Benny Bomogao, the “Smarter Roads” measure states the city’s continuous population growth comes with the increase for demand of transportation and is the main reason why Baguio motorists and tourists are experiencing traffic congestions.
“Traffic congestions delay emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and others in reaching their respective destinations. It delays the transactions of offices and businesses causing stress and headache to motorists. Improving the traffic flow of the city’s narrow roads and streets will ease traffic congestions here,” it added.
The ordinance’s proposed key changes include no stopping within 10 meters before and after intersections, use of police resource to direct traffic in some intersections, reduce the number of one-way streets within the central business district (CBD) area, implementation of modern roundabouts at identified critical intersections, and implementation of transit lanes.
Included in the proposed measure are the implementation of self-enforcing road markings, implementation of public transport stops (loading and unloading zones), use of thermoplastic paint for all road markings, location of new pedestrian crossings, changes to promote traffic calming in the CBD and some highways, and information sharing of new routing with Google maps, Waze and other mobile apps. (PR)