Dagupan traffic experiment extended
THE ongoing vehicular traffic experiment in Dagupan City, which ended last March 31, has been extended until May 31 following an ordinance passed last week by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
Councilor Marvin Fabia, chair of the SP committee on transportation and public utilities, said the second extension is necessary to make a better assessment of the effectiveness of the new traffic scheme in eliminating traffic bottlenecks in the downtown area particularly during the rush hours.
The incessant traffic jams in the past was tagged as one of the reasons for the sluggish growth of trade and commerce in the city.
The second extension was approved also to support the Bangus Festival 2014 when the volume of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic are expected to be heavy.
The scheme, being implemented by the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) with the assistance of the City Assistance Service Center (CAST), designates different loading and unloading zones for public utility jeepneys and buses covering different routes to eliminate traffic congestion and promote orderly commuting.
It also strictly enforces the ordinance against colorum tricycles’s operations in the city that proliferated over the years that added to congestion in the city streets.
Fabia said he has personally has seen the positive impact of the experiment but the city council will have to wait for the official recommendation of the POSO and CAST expected at the end of May.
ACTO POSITION
The Association of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) Pangasinan chapter has also commended the initial success of the traffic experiment.
However, the group felt that more cooperation from the private vehicle owners and pedestrians are needed.
“The pedestrians and the private vehicle owners should also cooperate,” said Benny Aquino, president of ACTO Pangasinan chapter.
Aquino expressed dismay over jaywalkers and private vehicle owners who park their cars in the designated loading and unloading areas.
“The authorities should be strict and penalize jaywalkers as well as erring vehicle owners because they contribute to disorderly traffic,” he said..—LVM and Dada Austria
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