The Makati City government announced Wednesday a new policy to solve the traffic problem in the city’s Central Business District.
City traffic enforcers are now implementing a one-way traffic scheme at the northern part of the financial district that has entailed the declaration of major streets as “No Parking Zones,” particularly the entire stretch of South Avenue, Ayala Avenue Extension, Hippodromo Street, A.P. Reyes Street, Zapote Street, and Kamagong Street.
The traffic measure came after members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved City Ordinance No. һ2017-026 last February.
Mayor Abigail Binay directed the city’s Public Safety Department to strictly enforce the ordinance, which includes the implementation of the new “South Avenue-Zapote One Way Loop.”
“These additional traffic rules and measures are necessary to ease traffic congestion in identified chokepoints in the area. These are also intended to address increased vehicular volume expected to be generated by emerging growth centers outside the central business district,” Binay said.
The policy stated that South Avenue is designated as one way for northbound traffic while Zapote Street is one way for southbound traffic.
Binay urged motorists to obey traffic rules in Makati to avoid being apprehended and fined for traffic violations.
“Our traffic enforcers are under strict orders to apprehend and penalize motorists who disobey traffic rules and regulations under the Makati Traffic Code, as well as subsequent ordinances enacted to address specific concerns affecting traffic management in the city,” she said.
From January to April, the city government recorded a total of 48,868 ordinance violation receipts issued to errant motorists apprehended by PSD traffic enforcers. Of these, 5,561 were issued for illegal parking.
Section 5 of City Ordinance No. һ2017-026 sets parking regulations to be enforced on the use of one-way zones, as follows:
a) No vehicle is allowed to park at both sides of a road declared as “One Way Zone”; b) The absence of “No Parking” signs does not mean that parking is allowed. Parking is permitted only within spaces marked with white “T” lines; c) Vehicles illegally parked will be removed at the owner’s expense; d) Any towing company that removes a vehicle from a “No Parking Zone” shall not be held responsible in any situation relating to the validity of the removal.
Illegally parked vehicles will be subjected to towing and impounding, and will only be released to the driver, owner, or operator upon the payment of its towage fee and penalties as provided by the city traffic code, it added.
The ordinance has also authorized the construction of Zapote Street Extension, which will extend from the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue to Kamagong Street. A study conducted by the PSD showed the extension to be necessary to complete the South Avenue-Zapote Loop.
The loop is also seen to improve access of motorists to the C-3 bridge being planned for construction by the national government, which will help ease traffic going to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or Edsa.
Another relevant provision of the ordinance is the installation of additional traffic lights at the following intersections along Zapote Street: Kalayaan Avenue, Pablo Ocampo Street, and Metropolitan Avenue.
The entire stretch of Ayala Avenue Extension has been declared off limits to sidewalk vendors.
The ordinance also deputizes the Public Safety Assistance Group of the PSD to enforce and prosecute violations of the provisions of relevant sections, with penalties in accordance with existing rules and regulations regarding traffic management.
Earlier, the mayor directed the PSD to study and come up with recommendations on how to improve traffic from the Makati CBD to the northern side of the city, in line with the current administration’s thrust to create additional growth centers outside the CBD.
Also considered in the study was the planned construction of the C-3 Bridge, which is expected to generate a significant amount of traffic in the next few years.
Other plans being proposed based on the study include the widening of South Avenue from Metropolitan Avenue to Kalayaan Avenue, which is expected to increase vehicular capacity.
Based on projections, road occupancy may increase by around 15 percent from current levels, with at least 4,110 car trips and 27,480 pedestrian/public transport trips generated during peak hours.