THE Makati Commercial Estate Association (MaCEA) revealed early this week said that some P497 million so far had been invested in the Makati Central Business District’s pedestrianization program.
MaCEA has been a primary mover in the district’s development, building at least seven underpasses, on grade covered sidewalks, and the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway.
MaCEA’s latest project has extended the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway 305 meters more, from V.A. Rufino to Salcedo Street. The extension was built at a cost of P110.6 million over a year and eight months. This brings the De La Rosa Elevated Walkway to about 1,100 meters long, making it the country’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.
MaCEA, composed of all the property owners within the Makati CBD, expects to invest approximately P150 million more for its pedestrianization program in 2017.
“We envisioned the program as a network of trilevel pedestrian pathways composed of underground passageways, on-grade covered sidewalks and elevated walkways,” MaCEA President David L. Balangue said.
“Ultimately, it will encourage motorists to leave their cars and join the pedestrians on short trips to the commercial center and back, which is the core objective of the pedestrianization program.”
The De La Rosa Elevated Walkway has serviced hundreds of thousands of pedestrians since its first phase was built from the Enterprise Center in Paseo de Roxas to Greenbelt. Today, with the elevated walkway’s connection to Ayala Center, commuters have the option to start from the Ayala MRT station on Edsa and comfortably walk all the way down to Makati Medical Center fully protected from the sun and rain.
“The walkway offers workers, residents and transients safety, comfort, convenience and protective cover on their short trips to the commercial center and back. There are many benefits to walking, and savings on gas and the vehicle’s wear and tear. Reduced vehicular traffic in the district will also have a positive impact on the environment,” Balangue
added.