An Update on Katipunan Traffic (from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

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Here's an update on the Katipunan traffic situation as published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/topstories/topstories/view/20080811-153994/Ateneo-entrance-at-Gate-3-U-turn-slot-stays-closed--MMDA


Ateneo entrance at Gate 3; U-turn slot stays closed--MMDA

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:14:00 08/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Starting this week, students and teachers on board vehicles will be allowed to enter Ateneo de Manila University only through the campus’ Gate 3 to prevent queuing of cars and the clogging of traffic on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, officials said.

Following talks with school officials on Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the entry point of the Loyola campus of Ateneo would be moved from Gate 2 to Gate 3.

But the U-turn slot shall remain closed to motorists, said MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno.

MMDA Traffic Operations Center Director Angelito Vergel de Dios said the decision was reached because of observations that the vehicle pileup often occurred in front of Gate 2 due to its proximity to the Aurora flyover.

On the other hand, those leaving the campus shall be allowed to use the Gate 2 exit, Vergel de Dios said, although he was not sure if they could still use the Gate 3 exit.

He said the new scheme would be implemented most likely on Wednesday after the parents and students had been notified.


Nacianceno said they observed that traffic on Katipunan Avenue Monday eased at about 7: 30 a.m., which was earlier than usual.


He said the closing of the U-turn slot did not affect traffic that much despite complaints, and it was the queuing at Gate 2 that caused much of the problem.


Robert Esquivel, chief of the MMDA's traffic enforcement unit, said he hoped the new scheme would ease traffic even more.


Noting the relatively smooth traffic Monday, Esquivel said there might not be any more need to reopen the U-turn slot again, especially if the new scheme worked.


Motorists, most of them parents of students, have assailed the MMDA for the rerouting scheme, which they claimed had made the area a cause for road rage because of traffic gridlocks.
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COMMENT:

I don't know what the MMDA meant by "relatively smooth traffic." Yesterday (Monday, 11 August 2008) I had to leave my car in Shakey's parking lot (near McDonald's) due to heavy traffic and walk (via the footbridge near National Bookstore) to the Ateneo campus so that I won't be late for my class.

How many vehicles enter Ateneo campus during rush hours? If there will only be one entrance to the campus, there will still be clogging in Katipunan, and if there is clogging in one part of Katipunan, there will always be a possibility of another gridlock occurring.

I think there is only one option for me now: to leave my car at home and walk... But I am a person with impaired mobility ):

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