TO help free up the heavily choked Edsa, the local government of Quezon City and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have implemented special lanes in more than 30 important roads in the city that can be used by private vehicles. The two agencies also said they have towed 10 illegally parked vehicles in the city’s streets to date.
The 10 illegally parked vehicles were towed and impounded by authorities in Roxas District on Wednesday, a day after Quezon City and the MMDA signed an agreement establishing 31 “Kalayaan Lanes” in the city.
“A joint team from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety [QC-DPOS] and the MMDA swooped down Umbel Street near the approach of Hemady-Scout Tobias bridge, where the vehicles were illegally parked,” the Mayor’s Office said in response to the owners complaining about their towed vehicles.
Under the memorandum of agreement, the Quezon City government will support the MMDA and different barangays in the implementation of the Kalayaan Lanes by providing additional signs and enacting ordinances for the effective implementation of its undertaking; and assist in traffic management by providing traffic enforcers from the DPOS.
The local government is also expected to coordinate with homeowners’ associations and different barangays for smooth implementation, and conduct an information campaign to inform the public of the implementation of Kalayaan Lanes, while the MMDA will identify Kalayaan Lanes within the territorial jurisdiction of Quezon City.
In enforcing the special lanes, sufficient traffic enforcers will be provided by the MMDA to execute traffic rules. It will also coordinate with government agencies, such as the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Philippine National Police.
Some of the major roads in Quezon City designated as Kalayaan Lanes are Banawe, Dapitan, Maria Clara, Matimyas, Scout Magbanua and Scout Tobias. Included also are Amoranto Avenue, Balintawak Cloverleaf, Biak na Bato, Congressional Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, C-5 Road, D. Tuazon Street, Dapitan Street, Del Monte Avenue, portions of Edsa traversing Quezon City, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Gilmore Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, Luzon Avenue, Mayon Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Santolan Road, Santo Domingo Avenue, Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, Visayas Avenue and West Avenue.