AN EXPERIMENTAL traffic scheme for public utility vehicles (PUJ) will be implemented as Panagbenga opens on Monday.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. issued Administrative Order (AO) 11, of 2010 last week. It stated all public utility jeepneys from La Trinidad and beyond are to use slaughterhouse compound as a turn-about terminal.
Meetings between the Traffic Management Branch, Baguio City Police Office, Traffic and Transport Management Committee (TTMC) and PUJ associations regarding the traffic experiment have also been going on.
Considering the passengers from the La Trinidad area, a shuttle service system was earlier deliberated on, with a two-ride-one-pay-scheme but later, the PUJ associations decided not to adopt the system.
As to the just-approved plan, Magsaysay Avenue near the Iglesia Ni Cristo Compound shall be used as unloading area for PUJs, after which vehicles shall turn left entering the slaughterhouse compound through an opening in between Imson building and the flat market.
Within the abattoir, PUJs will then traverse the vacant lot, pass through the Times Transit terminal, cross the Balajadia Street and go back to La Trinidad through Magsaysay Avenue after loading passengers at the covered transport terminal.
A task force headed by Police Chief Inspector Engelbert Soriano shall monitor, evaluate, and enforce the implementation of the traffic experiment.
Minor traffic adjustments during the experiment period will have to be done if necessary, the AO reads.
During the Media Ugnayan last week, Mayor Bautista, Jr. asked for the indulgence of the public for the implementation of the experimental traffic scheme.
He also assured them that the experiment ascertains traffic bottlenecks, which could be remedied once the traffic scheme is made permanent. (Julie G. Fianza)