Baguio City – The City Council approved on third and final reading an ordinance adopting the proposed smarter roads program initiated by Joseph Edison Claridades to improve the traffic flow in the city and appropriating the needed funds for the implementation of whatever desired interventions.
The ordinance authored by Councilors Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon and Benny Bomogao stated that the salient points of the city’s Smarter Roads program include no stopping within 10 meters before and after intersections; use of police resources to direct traffic in some intersections; reduction of the number of one-way streets within the central business district area; implementation of modern round-abouts at identified critical intersections; implementation of transit lanes; implementation of self-enforcing road markings; implementation of public transport stops; use of thermoplastic paints for all road markings; location of new pedestrian crossings; changes to promote better traffic conditions in the central business district area and some highways and information sharing of new routes with Google maps, waze and others.
The ordinance noted that the continuous growth of population in the city also comes with the increased demand in transportation, the primary reason the motorists of the city and tourists are experiencing monstrous traffic congestions, especially in the central business district area and other scenic tourist destinations outside the city.
“Traffic congestions delay emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and others in reaching their respective destinations. It delays the regular transactions of offices and businesses causing stress and headache to the motorists,” Yaranon stressed.
According to her, improving the traffic flow of the city’s narrow roads and streets will help ease the traffic congestions around the city and will guarantee stress-free travel for motorists around the country’s undisputed Summer Capital.
The ordinance added the city’s traffic management division under the City Engineering Office (CEO) and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Traffic Management Branch will conduct a thorough assessment on how to effectively and efficiently implement the salient features of the Smarter Roads Program so that traffic congestions in the central business district and roads leading towards tourist destinations will be addressed.
Yaranon explained whatever will be the findings and recommendations of the concerned offices will be implemented by the local government so that problems encountered will be subjected to the appropriate adjustments in consultation with the concerned agencies to improve the traffic flow all over the city.
One of the identified factors that contribute to the worsening traffic congestion in the city is the significant increase in the number of vehicles plying the city’s streets aside from the fact that the roads in most parts of the city are too narrow to accommodate the huge volume of vehicles daily.
During weekends, motorists encounter tremendous traffic congestions around the city’s roads because of the influx of visitors.
By Dexter A. See
Banner Photo by ARMANDO BOLISLIS
