Number coding lifted in Metro April 2 to 9 2012

THE number-coding scheme for motor vehicles will be lifted from April 2 to April 9, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Wednesday.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency decided to implement the weeklong suspension of the vehicle-reduction scheme to facilitate fast and efficient travel to and from the metropolis during Holy Week.

“With the ongoing summer break, traffic impact by the lifting of the number-coding scheme would be minimized,” Tolentino said.

The suspension of the number-coding scheme is just among the measures taken by the MMDA to ensure the smooth observance of the Lenten season under the overall Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa that was activated on March 23.

Tolentino said aside from the deployment of additional traffic enforcers, the agency would also set up public-assistance centers at the entry points of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) and South Luzon Expressway (Slex) from Holy Monday up to Easter Sunday to assist motorists and the public.

He added that motorists and the general public can also call the agency’s Metrobase hotline 136 for periodic traffic updates, adding that for Internet users, they can search for traffic updates through the MMDA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts which will be open even during the Holy Week.

At the same time, Tolentino advised motorists to use the “Mabuhay” lane as an alternative to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa), that he said is expected to encounter traffic congestion particularly on Holy Wednesday and Maundy Thursday.

The Mabuhay lanes were introduced by the MMDA in December 2010 to divert traffic from Edsa. From the original 12 lanes with a total of 157 kilometers, it has now been lengthened to a total of 45 lanes of 205 kilometers.

The lanes start from both the south and north entry points of Edsa. For northbound motorists going south, the agency said they may use McArthur Highway, right turn to Samson Road, C-4-Letre Road to Road 10 in Tondo, A. Bonifacio and Roxas Boulevard to their destinations.

From south to north, Tolentino said the lanes start at the Coastal Road and Slex.

Motorists coming from Nlex can also exit at various points, he said, including at the newly constructed ramp on Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.

Skyway and Slex operators gear up for Holy Week, Araw ng Kagitingan traffic

THE Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco) and Manila Toll Expressway System Inc. (MATES), operators of the Skyway System and the Slex, respectively, gear up for the rush of motorists who will go to places south of Metro Manila during Holy Week starting on Holy Wednesday, April 4, and return to Manila on either on Monday, April 9 which is a holiday (Araw ng Kagitingan), or Tuesday, April 10.

Under the Skyway-Slex  Oplan Ligtas na Kwaresma 2012,  Somco will coordinate with the MMDA, National Police-Highway Patrol Group, local police stations and radio communication and other support groups to address the anticipated increase in traffic volume at the Skyway System’s at-grade and elevated sections from Makati to Alabang and Slex from Alabang to Santo Tomas, Batangas.

Somco and MATES will deploy additional traffic enforcers to provide security and assistance to distressed motorists. The Automobile Association of the Philippines will station tow trucks in strategic locations of the tollway from Nichols Offsite to Calamba Interchange.  A 50-tonner crane will also be on standby. The Lifeline Rescue medical team will be ready to respond to any emergency.

“Ligtas na Kwaresma” stations will also be put up in Nichols southbound  (SB) direction, C-5 Offsite and Sucat northbound (NB) direction and will operate from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on April 4, 2012; from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 5 to 8,  and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 9.  Drinking and radiator water, and latrine facilities will be provided in these stations.

At Slex, MATES will closely coordinate security arrangements with the security officers of Shell, Petron, Caltex and Total service stations along the toll road from April 4 to 9.  Intensified patrol operations on the southbound direction will start on April 4 from 2 p.m. up until traffic normalized on April 5, 6, 7 and 8 from 5 a.m. onward until traffic normalized. To manage traffic and assist motorists returning to Manila on April 9 and 10, intensified patrol operations on the northbound direction will start at 6 a.m. and will last until traffic normalize.

MATES also advises southbound motorists to anticipate queueing at the toll-plaza approaches of Carmona, Santa Rosa, Calamba A and B and Ayala Greenfield from April 4 to April 8.  Similarly, on April 9 and 10, northbound motorists may experience delays at the Ayala Greenfield, Calamba and Filinvest toll plazas.

Somco and MATES have canceled the days-off and suspended the leaves of their traffic enforcers to heighten security and safety alert during the six-day Oplan Ligtas na Kwaresma 2012. Adequate number of ambulant tellers will also be deployed where needed. The Skyway and Slex toll facilities will be monitored through the operators’ closed-circuit television cameras round-the-clock.

Via Business Mirror