One-way traffic scheme eyed to ease Baguio traffic

BAGUIO CITY — The City Council is looking at the possibility of implementing a one-way trafficv scheme in the central business district during holidays and peak season for tourists to address traffic congestion.

Councilor Edgar Avila filed the proposed ordinance to address the problem experienced during the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) summit where a big volume of tourists flocked to the city to escape the traffic in Metro Manila and parts of region 3 where the meetings were held.

Avila mentioned of the experience of many city residents who had to walk to and from their residences to their schools and offices in the morning and the afternoon due to heavy traffic and the lack of public utility vehicles.

Avila said the city’s residents were adversely affected, since classes were ordered suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday following the massive trsffic gridlock on Monday last week.

“We welcome tourists because they help boost the city’s economy but we need to come up with a solution to the traffic to prevent the repeat of the same incident, Avila said.

The proposed ordinance entitled ‘An Ordinance Regulating the Use of Motor Vehicles during particular Holidays in the City of Baguio’, imposes a one-way traffic scheme from upper Session Road to Magsaysay Avenue and Harrison Road, Kisad Road leading to the downtown area while Legarda Road will be used as the outbound street for those coming from Session Road.

It also proposed the strict implementation of a no parking policy on roadsides, especially those leading to tourist spots.

Violators will be charged R3,000 and will their vehicles towed.

The proposal likewise states that only public utility vehicles and hotel shuttle buses will be allowed to bring visitors to key tourist spots.

Motorists who insist on using their vehicles will be assessed a R500 congestion charge.

Avila said other suggestions on how to address the traffic problem are most welcome.