Extended MRT, LRT, traffic duty hours pressed amid Christmas rush

Senator Nancy Binay is urging transportation and traffic management agencies and the management of the MRT and LRT to extend its operating hours ahead of the expected surge in the volume of shoppers and motorists a week before Christmas day.

With malls operating until 11 p.m., the intermittent rains and late-night Christmas parties, Binay said commuters and motorists have been complaining of spending many hours on the road.

In a related development, Quezon City officials are likewise asking local traffic authorities to add two hours per shift to the schedules of the city’s traffic field enforcers.

“New normal na nga ba ang traffic o mas pinabigat pa natin ang araw-araw na pagko-commute dahil sa (Is traffic really the new normal or was it aggravated due to) extended mall hours?" Binay asked.

Binay said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority should consider extending the operating hours of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT).

"Shout out po sa ating mga otoridad sa (to our authorities within the) Department of Transportation at MMDA na kung maaari ay mag-extend din ng oras ang MRT at LRT para makatulong na maibsan ang traffic sa mga major roads at magkaroon ng karagdagang opsyon ang mga commuter at mamimili na makauwi ng matiwasay (to help ease the traffic along major roads and help commuters find an option so they can go home safe and sound),” the senator added.

Binay said it is imperative that public transportation operators extend their operating hours to complement the 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. mall hours.

“Nag-uunahan na ang mga tao sa mga limitadong bus o jeep pagsarado ng mga mall dahil mas maagang nagsasara ang MRT at LRT na hanggang 10 p.m. o 10:30 p.m. lang (People are in a rush because of the limited bus and jeep when malls close because the MRT and LRT are operating only up until 10 a.m. or 10:30 p.m.,” Binay noted.

“Isa po ito sa mga nakikita kong dahilan ng pagbigat ng traffic sa (This is one of the reasons why we experience heavy traffic) late evening,” she added.

The lawmaker, likewise, appealed to the MMDA to field more traffic enforcers in the evenings to ensure them smooth flow of traffic.

In Quezon City, first district Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. has called for traffic enforcers to be on the streets as early as 4 a.m. up to 1 a.m. the following day as motorists and pedestrians are expected to be on the road for longer hours this Holiday Season.

Currently, traffic enforcers in the city are working the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. first shift and the 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. second shift. (With a report from Chito A. Chavez)