Double-deck buses welcome but...

A CHECK of the elevation and vertical clearance of footbridges on Edsa was necessary before proceeding with the proposal to return double-deck passenger buses to the thoroughfare, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

During the agency’s Sunday radio program, MMDA traffic engineering head Neomie Recio said the MMDA recently met with Bataan Rep. Enrique “Tet” Garcia Jr. who was behind the proposal.

She added that back in the 1980s when these buses plied Edsa, there were only a few pedestrian footbridges on the busy road. “But since the construction of the [Metro Rail Transit], some intersections had to be closed and more footbridges were constructed for pedestrians like in White Plains, Quezon City; Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong, and Estrella in Makati City,” she said.

“The lowest clearance of footbridges on Edsa is 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) and this is on Edsa-Monte de Piedad in Cubao, Quezon City,” added Recio.

Last week, the MMDA and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group said they were seriously considering” the deployment of double-decker buses to Edsa to address the traffic problem.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said on Thursday that these vehicles would be “space savers” as they would be able to accommodate more passengers as Garcia earlier noted in his proposal.

“Of the 4,936 franchised buses in Metro Manila, 3,421 are currently plying Edsa. If double-deck buses are used, we not only lessen pollution and fuel consumption but provide more road space as well without reducing seating space capacity,” he added.