Baguio studying smart road proposal
THE TRAFFIC and Transportation Management Committee (TTMC) chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan during its first meeting tackled a proposed “smarter roads” ordinance of Councilors Mylen Yaranon and Benny Bomogao adopting the proposal of Joseph Edison Claridades to improve the traffic flow in Baguio city and appropriating funds thereof.
The proposal includes no stopping within 10 meters before and after intersections, use police resource to direct traffic in some intersections, reduce the number of one-way streets within the central business district area, implementation of modern roundabouts at identified critical intersections, implementation of transit lanes, and implementation of self-enforcing road markings.
Under the ordinance, it also seeks to implement public transport stops (loading and unloading zones), use thermoplastic paint for all road markings, location of new pedestrian crossings, changes to promote traffic calming in the CBD and some highways, information sharing of new routing with Google Maps, Waze and others.
In a letter to City Council Sec. Brenner Bengwayan dated July 20, 2017, City Police Dir. Ramil Saculles recommended, among others, that the TTMC’s Technical Working Group should conduct a joint ocular inspection on affected streets or roads to
assess the practicability of the Clarides proposal particularly on the effect of the scheme along main routes such as Harrison, Magsaysay and Bokawkan Road.
During its August 14, 2017 regular session, the local legislature referred the proposed “smarter roads” ordinance and the police chief’s comments to the TTMC for proper action and recommendation.
In Tuesday’s meeting, the TTMC members agreed that several of the proposals were already being implemented like the use of police to direct traffic in some intersections, some to be studied further or done on experimental basis, while others like changes to promote traffic calming are not feasible since this is only applicable to wide, multi-lane highways that Baguio does not have. Gaby Keith