Katipunan Traffic: Aerial View of Katipunan Avenue (in the Vicinity of Ateneo de Manila University)

. Caption: An aerial view of Katipunan Avenue (in the vicinity of Ateneo de Manila University). Map extracted from wikimapia.org by Raffy Saldaña (http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/)


NOTE:

To understand why traffic congestion occurs in Katipunan Avenue in the vicinity of Ateneo de Manila University, one has to consider the location and the movement of people and vehicles in the area.

As can be seen from the map shown above, a major part of Katipunan Avenue between the flyover and University of the Philippines-Diliman is covered by Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College. Katipunan Avenue divides the combined area of Ateneo and Miriam and Xavierville Subdivision in Loyola Heights. In the morning, there is an influx of vehicles crossing Katipunan Avenue from Xavierville going to Ateneo and Miriam. Also, vehicles coming from La Vista Subdivision (near Miriam College) have to cross to the other side of Katipunan and make U-turns going to Ateneo or Miriam.

A similar event occurs near lunchtime (around 11:30 a.m.) when pre-school students from Ateneo and Miriam leave their respective schools, contributing to the traffic congestion during lunchtime (from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.). In the afternoon, around 3:00 p.m. another traffic congestion occurs when grade school students from Ateneo and Miriam leave their schools. The next traffic congestion occurs between 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. when high school students, college students, and employees of Ateneo and Miriam leave the two campuses.

However, a major contributing factor to the traffic congestion in Katipunan Avenue (in the vicinity of Ateneo and Miriam) is the fact that Katipunan Avenue (which was made part of C-5 Road, a national highway) ends at the La Vista area in the intersections of C.P. Garcia (near University of the Philippines-Diliman) and Tandang Sora Avenue -- which are much narrower roads compared to Katipunan Avenue.

COMMENT:

TO THE METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (MMDA): NO MATTER WHAT TRAFFIC SCHEME YOU "EXPERIMENT" IN KATIPUNAN AVENUE, IF YOU HAVE NOT SOLVED THE STRUCTURAL LIMITATION OF KATIPUNAN AVENUE (THAT IS, IF KATIPUNAN AVENUE IS NOT YET EXTENDED TO COMMONWEALTH AVENUE), THERE WILL ALWAYS BE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN KATIPUNAN AVENUE (IN THE VICINITY OF ATENEO AND MIRIAM).

WHY SHOULD THE LOYOLA HEIGHTS COMMUNITY BE "PUNISHED" BY YOUR TRAFFIC "EXPERIMENTS" WHEN YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE AREA OF KATIPUNAN AVENUE (IN THE VICINITY OF ATENEO AND MIRIAM) IS A SCHOOL/RESIDENTIAL AREA?

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Katipunan Traffic: The Tricycle Factor

. Caption: An MMDA sign on the footbridge infront of Ateneo de Manila University in Katipunan.

Caption: Tricycles in the vicinity of Katipunan and Xavierville Avenue.

Note: Today (18 Aug 2008) I monitored a news article in Philippine Inquirer Online about tricycles and Katipunan traffic. Below is the link to the article and its contents:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080817-155218/Tricycle-ban-at-Katipunan-Ave-draws-complaints

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Tricycle ban at Katipunan Ave draws complaints

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:46:00 08/17/2008

MANILA, Philippines--Tricycles have been banned from plying the stretch of Katipunan Avenue by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, drawing complaints from transport operators, students and residents.

In another attempt to ease traffic on the busy thoroughfare, the MMDA began strictly enforcing the tricycle ban on Katipunan Avenue last Friday, saying tricycles led to even worse traffic in the area.

But Alex Baay, president of the Loyola-Pansol Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association, said the ban drew complaints from passengers and residents especially those headed to the Ateneo de Manila University or Miriam College.

"A lot of passengers are affected, especially students. They have to walk several meters just to go to the other side," he said in a phone interview.

Baay said he, along with barangay (village) and transport leaders, sought a moratorium on the tricycle ban with Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, who was the acting mayor in the absence of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., in a recent meeting.

But nothing was set in the meeting, as the MMDA had yet to respond to their written request, he said.

Baay added the erratic traffic policies of the MMDA, such as rerouting schemes and the closing and opening of U-turn slots -- not tricycles -- have been causing the traffic gridlock in the area.

But MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios disagreed, saying tricycles were a big factor in the traffic situation on Katipunan Avenue.

"They're not supposed to be there. They affect traffic. They obstruct passing vehicles all the time when turning corners," he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

Vergel de Dios added that the MMDA was only enforcing an existing tricycle ban on national roads.

He also said the agency also reopened a U-turn slot in front of Miriam College to help ease traffic "in the middle of C.P. Garcia and Aurora Boulevard."

Vergel de Dios said that as of Sunday, the MMDA's proposal to change the entry point of Ateneo from its Gate 2 to Gate 3 still remained under discussion by the school board.

The MMDA proposed restricting entrance to the campus to its Gate 3 instead of Gate 2 in order to prevent bottle-neck traffic there.

Motorists, most of them parents of students, have assailed the MMDA for its rerouting schemes, which they claimed turned the area into a cause for road rage because of traffic gridlocks.
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Notes on Traffic Gridlock, Game Theory and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Photo Caption: Katipunan traffic gridlock (Source: Ateneo de Manila University Physical Plant Office)

Last Friday, August 8, 2008, a traffic gridlock occurred in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City in the vicinity of Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University. (See related link: http://raffysaldana.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-traffic-woes-in-katipunan.html )

What is a gridlock?

Here are some notes that I gathered from a Wikipedia article:

"1. Gridlock is a term describing an inability to move on a transport network. The term originates from a situation possible in a grid network where intersections are blocked, prohibiting vehicles from moving through the intersection or backing up to an upstream intersection.

2. The term gridlock is also widely used to describe high traffic congestion with minimal flow (a "traffic jam"), whether or not a blocked grid system is involved. By extension, the term has been applied to situations in other fields where flow is stalled by excess demand, or in which competing interests prevent progress.

3. The traditional form of gridlock is caused by traffic heading in one direction blocking cross traffic at an intersection. In many jurisdictions, drivers are prohibited from entering an intersection if they cannot clear it before the traffic light turns red. If drivers follow this rule of the road, gridlock will be prevented and traffic will only be slow in the direction that is actually congested. One method of reducing gridlock is to aggressively enforce penalties for vehicles that block intersections.

4. Another type of gridlock can occur during traffic surges between highway on-ramps and off-ramps located within a quarter mile of each other. Traffic exiting the highway may back up and block the entering vehicles.

5. Gridlock is sometimes cited as an example of the prisoner's dilemma (from game theory). Mutual cooperation among drivers would give the maximum benefit (prevention of gridlock), but this may not happen because of the desire to maximize one's own benefit (shortest travel time) given the uncertainty about the other drivers' commitment to cooperation."

Note:

To an applied mathematician and computational scientist like me, studying traffic dynamics is quite interesting because traffic is considered a nonlinear and complex phenomenon. Modeling and simulation of traffic dynamics is a useful tool that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) can utilize in the management of traffic in Metro Manila, particularly in the Katipunan area.

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MMDA: Tricycles No Longer Allowed in Katipunan

From the Ateneo Blueboard: TRAFFIC BULLETIN (Thursday, 14 August 2008) KATIPUNAN TRICYCLES & TRAFFIC TRICYCLES 1. MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) personnel informed tricycle drivers and operators this morning that tricycles will not be allowed along Katipunan starting tomorrow, Friday 15 August 2008. This was confirmed by MR. ALEX A. BAAY, President of the Loyola Pansol Tricycle Operators and Drivers Assoc. (TODA) and Mr. ROMEO C. MORALES, President of Loyola Heights TODA. 2. Katipunan is part of C5, a major thoroughfare, and tricycles are not allowed on major thoroughfares. 3. Some LPTODA (Green) and LHTODA (White) tricycles will try to enter the campus very early tomorrow morning and provide tricycle services on campus. 4. Tricycle terminals will be allowed near Gate 2.5 footbridge and at Gate 3.5 footbridge. 5. Tricycle-riding members of the community may encounter problems going to school and offices tomorrow. TRAFFIC 1. Campus security has learned from an unofficial source that MMDA will extend the concrete barriers separating northbound vehicles coming from the flyover and the service road till past Gate 2. 2. This means that only northbound vehicles using the service road will be able to enter Gate1 and Gate 2. 3. Northbound vehicles coming from the flyover will have to enter Ateneo via Gate 3. From the University Plant Office Ateneo de Manila University

More Feedback on the MMDA Experimental Traffic Scheme in Katipunan

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Below is an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that I have monitored recently:

Katipunan rerouting by MMDA draws flak from motorists
By Jeannette Andrade, DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:55:00 08/09/2008
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20080809-153543/Katipunan-rerouting-by-MMDA-draws-flak-from-motorists

"MANILA, Philippines – Motorists, most of them parents of students in campuses along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, lashed out at the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for its rerouting scheme that they claimed has turned the area into a virtual breeding ground for road rage by worsening traffic problems in the area.

Surging blood pressures and chaos, they claimed, have become daily fare for motorists who pass through Katipunan Ave. on their way to the Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College and the University of the Philippines.

The resulting gridlock has angered motorists like Gary de Jesus who proposed that the MMDA discuss their traffic schemes with the school officials in an e-mail he sent to fellow motorists, saying the agency should have warned those affected by the implementation of the changes.

He also suggested additional U-turn slots for the thousands of vehicles that use Katipunan Ave. leading to the campuses of the three big schools in the area.

A fuming parent responded to the e-mail with a scathing piece on the “propensity of the MMDA to experiment with not-so-well-thought-of schemes that have to result in chaos before they are finally scrapped.”

The parent cited what he said was a simple law of physics that no two things can occupy a single space, pointing out that a single U-turn slot beneath the flyover at the boundary of Quezon and Marikina cities cannot accommodate all southbound lane vehicles.

The MMDA, however, defended its decision to reroute traffic, saying the scheme benefited more commuters than inconvenienced others.

“What we’re doing is for the greater public, not just those who live in subdivisions,” said Roberto Esquivel, head of the MMDA’s traffic enforcement unit.

He said the majority of the complaints came from homeowners in subdivisions like Xavierville and La Vista, and not from regular motorists. “Traffic especially on the southbound lane sped up significantly,” he said.

“Those who complain about the rerouting scheme should realize that Katipunan Ave. is not a subdivision road. It’s a national road. The MMDA, not the subdivisions, has the authority to implement traffic schemes as it sees fit,” Esquivel said.

MMDA Traffic Operations Center director Angelito Vergel de Dios, however, said the agency would study the complaints. “If we have to abandon the scheme, we will do so. We’re here to improve traffic, not to worsen the situation,” he said.
"

MMDA: Experimental Traffic Scheme in Katipunan to Continue

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During the news on TV (Channel 7, Unang Hirit) yesterday, August 13, 2008, a Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) official announced that the "Experimental" Traffic Scheme in Katipunan will continue.

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Ateneo's Position on the Proposed MMDA Traffic Scheme in Katipunan

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From the Ateneo Blueboard (12 August 2008):

TRAFFIC BULLETIN
(Tuesday, 12 August 2008)


MMDA has submitted a proposed traffic scheme in Katipunan that may require adjustments in the entrance and exit gates on campus. This is still only a proposal that will be considered and submitted to all units concerned for their feedback and comments.


In the meantime, there are no changes in the traffic scheme on campus. Should there be changes in the traffic flow on campus, announcements and notices will be posted ahead of time.
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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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More Traffic Woes in Katipunan

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Photo captions: The worsening traffic condition in Katipunan. Photos and map courtesy of the Ateneo Traffic Bulletin.

Note: There seems to be no end in sight to the traffic mayhem in Katipunan, in the vicinity of Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, and University of the Philippines-Diliman. And 'traffic management' is turning to be an 'oxymoron' for MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) people!

To avoid the traffic gridlock under the Katipunan flyover, I now take the following route: from Xavierville avenue I turn left to Abada St., then turn right to the road leading to Katipunan (near McDonald's and Shakey's), then turn right to Katipunan and take the Katipunan flyover until the Katipunan-Santolan u-turn slot! Then head back to Ateneo, avoiding Gate 2 (which is always clogged with vehicles) and enter Ateneo via Gate 3.

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This is an additional 10 kilometers (approximately) added to my normal route in going to Ateneo.

Read below for more Katipunan traffic woes:

Source: http://www.ateneo.edu/index.php?p=120&type=2&sec=26&aid=5563

KATIPUNAN TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK
8 August 2008

Ateneo Campus security reported that the northbound traffic in Katipunan had slowed down at 6:45 a.m. They noted that vehicles making a U-turn (see map above) in front of Miriam College after the footbridge had occupied all southbound lanes, blocking ALL southbound vehicles.

The U-turn above is the 3rd from the U-turn under the flyover. Yesterday MMDA closed the U-turn to the south of flyover (left arrow). Only the U-turn to the north was left open.

6:50 a.m.: Northbound vehicles, including those from Ateneo, slowed down.
6:51 a.m.: Note unidentified dark colored Pajero that went against the flow of traffic to join vehicles making a U-turn towards UP.
6:52 a.m.: Unidentified men in white t-shirts moving the concrete barriers in the U-turn area.
6:59 a.m.: Unidentified men trying to adjust concrete barrier that fell on its side.
7:07 a.m.: Southbound lane still blocked at the U-turn area. No MMDA traffic enforcer was around to direct traffic.

Northbound vehicles (going to UP on the right lane) decided to go south, adding to the gridlock.

More vehicles followed and make the U-turn adding to the grid lock.

Still no MMDA traffic enforcers to direct traffic.

Northbound lane before the C.P. Garcia U-turn is full of vehicles not moving.

Vehicles trying to make a U-turn at C.P. Garcia are at a standstill. Passengers started walking to UP and to Miriam College.

A UP secondary student running to UP with vehicles in the background.

MMDA and Quezon City traffic enforcers start arriving at the area around 7:15 a.m. They could not go through the vehicles caught in the gridlock.

The gridlock in Katipunan started at 7:00 a.m. and lasted till 8:44 a.m. Many Grade School and High School students were late this morning. All motorists caught in the gridlocks have their respective complaints against MMDA’s traffic management efforts.
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I Was a Victim of the MMDA 'Traffic Experiment'

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Note: This morning (5 August 2008) I left my condominium unit at 11:00 a.m. My first class on a Tuesday schedule is at 12:00 noon. Normally, it takes me only 10 minutes (by car) to go from my place to my class in Ateneo de Manila University. But today, it took me 1 hour and 30 minutes before I reached my class.

I blame the Metro Manila Development Authority (MDDA) officials for their irresponsible action. Much time, energy and resources could have been saved had the MMDA made proper warning and notices before they implemented their "traffic experiment."

I would like to call the attention of Mr. Bayani Fernando, MMDA Chairman, to look into this matter. Mr. Fernando has no business running for President of the Philippines if his agency, the MMDA, continue to have no regard for motorists and ordinary citizens like me.


Raffy
A victim of MMDA traffic mismanagement

From the Ateneo Blueboard:

Traffic Bulletin 05 August 2008

date posted: 2008-08-05 13:16:02

MMDA implemented changes in the traffic flow on Katipunan without notice at 10:55 this morning. This caused heavy traffic along Katipunan and on campus. Changes implemented by MMDA were:

1. Closed U-turn 1 (in front of National Bookstore) and U-turn 2 (between Ateneo’s Gate 3.5 and Miriam College’s Gate 1).
2. Relocated U-turn 1 to the U-turn under flyover.
3. Relocated U-turn 2 to the corner of Katipunan and B. Gonzales Street.

U-turn 1 being closed by MMDA. Vehicles must now take U-turn under the flyover

Original U-turn 2 blocked with orange barrier and new U-turn at the corner of Katipunan and B. Gonzales with concrete barriers

According to an unofficial MMDA source, this new scheme is experimental. In the meantime, the community is advised to note this new traffic scheme in Katipunan.

Ateneo motorists are requested to refrain from making a U-turn immediately after Gate 3.5 during rush hour. Moving towards the U-turn slot from Gate 3.5 would cut across the path of northbound vehicles and risk being hit by a speeding vehicle and also blocking vehicles entering Miriam College’s Gate 1.

Traffic may be heavier than usual at Gate 2 tomorrow morning as motorists adjust to the new traffic scheme. It is advisable to come earlier than usual.
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