EDSA Carousel

EDSA Carousel
1
An EDSA Carousel bus at PITX
Overview
System	Mega Manila Consortium Corporation ES Transport and Partners Consortium
Operator	Department of Transportation Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Began service	July 1, 2020; 3 years ago (2020-07-01)
Predecessors	Various private bus companies via EDSA (as LTFRB franchise route)
Route
Route type	Bus rapid transit
Locale	Metro Manila, Philippines
Start	Monumento
Via	EDSA Macapagal Boulevard
End	PITX
Length	28 km (17 mi)
Stops	21
Daily ridership	389,579 (2022)[1]
Annual patronage	80,832,186 (2022)[1]

The EDSA Carousel, also known as Route 1 and formerly and still referred to as Route E, is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, part of several bus routes in Metro Manila.^[2] It is situated along EDSA and other roads, running on a dedicated right-of-way called the EDSA Busway, separated from normal road traffic in most of its stretch by concrete barriers and steel bollards on the innermost lane.^[3]

Interim operations began on June 1, 2020, serving as a replacement of the former bus routes along EDSA, acting as an augmentation service to the MRT Line 3 due to the limited capacity restrictions put in place by the general community quarantine in Metro Manila as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.^[4] Full operations began later on July 1, 2020. Intended to be largely served by bus stops along the median, some stops are temporarily served by bus stops on the curbside.^[3][5][6]

The line is operated by the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation and ES Transport and Partners Consortium under the supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).^[7]

History

Background

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila.^[8] Traffic congestion has always been a concern in the area and since 2007, the MMDA ordered buses to stay on the two right-most lanes of the road.^[9] Plastic barriers were later added in 2016.^[10]

A proposal for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system using funds from the World Bank was approved in 2017.^[11] EDSA was intended to be the second phase of the implementation of the bus rapid transit system, following Quezon Avenue.^[12] Line 2, known as the Central Corridor, will be eventually realized as the EDSA Carousel.

Development

On March 16, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) imposed a community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted almost all public and private transportation using EDSA. This paved the way for the immediate construction of the EDSA Busway.

Traffic in the EDSA Busway is restricted to authorized city buses, as well as emergency vehicles such as ambulances, firetrucks, and responders to emergencies and vehicles and convoys that have been coordinated beforehand.^[13] Enforcement of the Busway is provided by MMDA Regulation No. 20-002, which was signed on July 28, 2020. Public and private motor vehicle drivers that violate the regulation are fined ₱1,000 for each offense.^[14]

The EDSA Carousel line is distinct from the World Bank-funded BRT project.^[15]

Opening

On July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel line, also designated as Route E, started its interim operations with a total of fifteen stops in a dedicated bus lane completed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.^[16][17]

Proposed privatization and resumption of free rides

Due to the increasing amount of passengers as restrictions are slowly being relaxed, volumes of passengers began to increase as well. In the wake of increasing inflation and world market movements affecting currency values, free rides for the EDSA Carousel was announced for the remaining months of then-President Rodrigo Duterte's term. Upon Bongbong Marcos's assumption of the presidency, free rides were extended until the end of 2022, in spite of budgetary concerns.^[18][19] However, the free rides introduced problems of ridership capacity and the amount of buses available to serve passengers during rush hours.

Proposals to privatize the operations of the EDSA Carousel to further improve its services were explored. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is open to such proposals, adding these must be "explored expeditiously."^[20]

Ridership

Since the line's opening in June 2020, the total ridership of the line was 130,238,608 commuters within June 2020 to November 2022. From June to December 2020, total ridership has reached a daily average 41,000 to 60,000 passengers,^[21] and continued to rise throughout 2021, wherein the daily average of commuters using the line is 129,000 passengers,^[22] with its highest record reaching 160,000 passengers in June 2021.^[23] Total ridership in 2021 reached 47,104,197.^[22]

In 2022, the line's highest record reached a total of 404,010 passengers on October 24, 2022, while the average daily ridership through the year is 389,579 passengers. Total ridership also increased to a new record high, as the line served 80,832,186 passengers.^[1][24]

Stops

The line initially had 15 bus stops on its interim launch,^[16] with additional stops added in the following months.^[25][26] As of December 31, 2022^[update], 21 bus stops are currently operational. There are 87 operators and 751 authorized buses that serve the entire route.^[1]

List of stops

Name	Distance (km)		Type[27]	Connections	Location
	Between stops	Total
Monumento	—	—	Median	Manila LRT Monumento Bus Routes  9   14   35   37   42   54  Monumento	Caloocan
Bagong Barrio	0.55	0.55		Bus Routes  9   37  Bagong Barrio
Balintawak	1.55	2.10		Manila LRT Balintawak Bus Routes  5   8   9   13   19   20   21   22   37   38   40   52  Ayala Malls Cloverleaf	Quezon City
Kaingin Road	0.80	2.90		none
Roosevelt	1.10	4.00		Manila LRT Fernando Poe Jr. Bus Routes  18   33   64  Fernando Poe Jr.
North Avenue	1.50	5.50		Manila LRT North Triangle Common Station Manila MRT 3 North Avenue 3 7  MMS  North Triangle Common Station Bus Routes  18   33   64  SM North EDSA
Quezon Avenue	1.30	6.80	Median	Manila MRT 3 Quezon Avenue  MMS  Quezon Avenue Bus Routes  6   7   17   34   49  Eton Centris
Mega Q-Mart	1.80	8.60	Median	none
Main Avenue	1.60	10.20	Median	none
Santolan	0.80	11.00		Manila MRT 3 Santolan–Annapolis
Ortigas	2.40	13.40	Median	Manila MRT 3 Ortigas 4 EDSA Bus Routes  2  Robinsons Galleria	Mandaluyong
Guadalupe[a]	2.40	15.80	Median	Manila MRT 3 Guadalupe 5 Guadalupe Pasig River Ferry Service Guadalupe	Mandaluyong–Makati boundary
Buendia	—	—	Median	Manila MRT 3 Buendia Bus Routes  17   42  Buendia Avenue	Makati
Ayala	—	18.80	Curbside (northbound) Boarding Lane (southbound)	Manila MRT 3 Ayala BGC Bus  EX01   NX01   WX01   L01   NR01   AX01   BA01   WE01  EDSA Ayala Bus Routes  10   11   12   17   38   40   42   45   46   59  One Ayala  62   63  EDSA-Ayala
Tramo[b]	—	—	Median	Manila MRT 3 Taft Avenue EDSA	Pasay
Taft Avenue	—	22.00
Roxas Boulevard	—	—		Bus Routes  5   6   7   14   23   27   30   34   43   52  Double Dragon Plaza  22   35   45   46   47   49  Heritage Hotel
SM Mall of Asia[b]	—	24.60	Curbside	Bus Routes  4   5   6   7   14   30   34   43   52  SM Mall of Asia
Macapagal – Bradco Avenue	—	—		Bus Routes  4   5   6   7   14   23   27   30   34   43   52  Bradco Avenue	Parañaque
Macapagal – City of Dreams / Ayala Malls Manila Bay	—	—		Bus Routes  4   5   6   7   14   23   27   30   34   43   52  City of Dreams / Ayala Malls Manila Bay
PITX	—	28.10	Terminal	Manila MRT  MMS  Asia World Manila LRT Asia World Bus Routes  4   5   6   7   14   18   22   23   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   34   43   47   52   55  PITX
Stops, stations and transit systems in italics are either under construction or proposed.

Notes

Stop layout

The line utilizes existing footbridges along EDSA by constructing additional stairways to the center island of EDSA. It also uses some stations of the MRT Line 3 and LRT Line 1 by making use of the train stations' emergency exit stairways.^[25] Some bus stops, such as the ones at Ayala (northbound), SM Mall of Asia, and Macapagal Boulevard, still use the existing stops on the curbside, while the southbound Ayala bus stop is located inside One Ayala.^[28][29] Unlike those along EDSA, stops along Macapagal Boulevard are unmarked.

Future

On November 16, 2020, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed an agreement with SM Prime Holdings, DM Wenceslao and Associates Inc., and Double Dragon Properties Corp. for the construction of EDSA busway bridges. The bridges will be shouldered by the three companies, seeking to provide safer, convenient, and PWD-friendly walkways for the riding public using the EDSA Carousel stops, and for pedestrians crossing EDSA.^[30] The pedestrian bridges were conceptualized with concourses, concierge, ticketing booths, and turnstiles for the automated fare collection system. Ramps and elevators would also be available to provide accessibility for PWDs, senior citizens, and pregnant passengers. The structures will be strategically located at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, Macapagal Boulevard in Aseana City and the corner of EDSA and Macapagal Boulevard.^[30][31] The groundbreaking ceremony for the EDSA Busway Concourse Project was held on May 18, 2021. It was expected to be completed in March 2022,^[31] but no updates have been announced since then.

On June 20, 2022, the Department of Transportation announced an additional 11 more stops would be added to the EDSA Carousel, which would bring the total number of stops to 29.^[32] The Tramo, Taft Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard stops have since been completed.

As of October 2023, the Kamuning and Philam (Ormoc) stops are under construction. The proposed Cubao, Connecticut, Greenfields, and Estrella stops still remain under consideration, as the location, funding, and feasibility studies are yet to be determined and conducted.^[33]

In 2024, SM Prime and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inaugurated the first (SM North EDSA) of three EDSA Carousel Concourse project (Build! Build! Build!). Each has a concierge, ticketing booths and turnstiles for the automatic fare collection system.^[34]

EDSA busway concourses

List of future stops

Name[32]	Type	Connections	Location
Philam Ormoc	Median	none	Quezon City
Kamuning - NIA		Manila MRT 3 GMA–Kamuning
Cubao	Un­known	Manila MRT 3 Araneta Center-Cubao Manila LRT Araneta Center-Cubao
Connecticut		none	San Juan
Greenfields		Manila MRT 3 Shaw Boulevard	Mandaluyong
Estrella		none	Makati
Magallanes		Manila MRT 3 Magallanes
Stops, stations and transit systems in italics are either under construction or proposed.

Incidents and accidents

• On October 1, 2020, the "No Beep card, No entry" policy was implemented to minimize physical contact between commuters and public transport personnel to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19 and to allow for more seamless and faster transactions to trim down the queuing of passengers. The new policy has drawn flak from commuters due to the current price of the card and its immediate implementation.^[35] Within the first week of its implementation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) suspended the mandatory use of beep cards after AF Payments Incorporated refused the government's request to waive the ₱80.00 cost of Beep cards.^[36]
• When the bus stops from Monumento to North Avenue were opened, the U-turn slots were closed, causing heavy traffic at the said portion.^[37] U-turn slots were reopened after few months to ease traffic flow.^[38] In November 2021, traffic lights were installed at the U-turn slots to address concerns both of the bus accessibility and the traffic congestion it causes.
• On April 13, 2022, the EDSA Carousel failed to keep up with the influx of demand as a result of the LRT-2 and MRT-3 being closed for annual Holy Week maintenance from April 13 to 17.^[39] As a result, many work commuters struggled to go home as queues for the EDSA Carousel spilled out onto the road and its adjoining streets on all stops along the bus line.^[39] Some were stranded at the stops beyond midnight, and many opted to walk home instead. The lack of buses has also been attributed to a slow rollout of service contracting subsidies and high gasoline prices which influenced drivers and operators not to ply their routes, in fear of operating at a loss.^[40] Skip buses were deployed to decongest the EDSA Carousel stops, while motorists along EDSA had also offered to give stranded commuters a ride. Commuters criticized the intensified anti-colorum operations that took place on the same day, disturbing any attempts for private individuals to rescue the stranded commuters.^[40] On April 14, the day after, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade issued a formal apology for the situation, acknowledging the lack of buses, and promising not to allow the incident to happen again.^[40]

Road crashes

In a span of two years since the implementation of the EDSA Busway and the start of EDSA Carousel operations, multiple road crashes have been recorded within and outside of the EDSA Busway.^[41]

• Multiple instances of motor vehicles crashing into the concrete barriers of the EDSA Busway were recorded since the EDSA Carousel's operations started. According to MMDA traffic czar Edison Nebrija, most of the drivers who crashed their vehicles against the barriers were speeding, drunk, or asleep behind the wheel. Some of the concrete barriers have already been replaced with steel bollards following a series of accidents.^[42]
• Several road-related deaths and injuries have also been reported on the EDSA Busway itself due to collisions between buses and other legal and illegal vehicles, as well as jaywalking incidents.^[41]

In light of this, the Move As One Coalition, a non-government transport advocacy organization, urged the government to implement at-grade crosswalks and speed limits, widen the EDSA Busway lanes, use safer barriers and BRT-compatible buses, and conduct proper training for bus drivers.^[41]

Trespassing of unauthorized vehicles

Multiple incidents of private and non-emergency government motor vehicles illegally using the EDSA Busway have been recorded, causing disruptions to EDSA Carousel operations.

Barring exceptional emergency situations, trespassing by unauthorized vehicles is strictly prohibited. Violators will face apprehension, ticketing, and possible revocation of their driver's license, even if they belong to a government agency. Vehicles considered authorized include EDSA Carousel Buses, ambulances carrying patients, responding law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, and essential on-duty government vehicles and convoys, including those from the MMDA and of the top five government officials (i.e., President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chief Justice), that have been coordinated beforehand.^[43]

• During the first month of operations in 2020, the MMDA reported that over 900 violators were apprehended and ticketed, with half of them being government personnel. ^[44]
• On July 20, 2023, photos of a sting operation conducted by the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic enforcers went viral online as over 150 motorists were apprehended and ticketed for illegally using the EDSA Busway in Pasay. The DOTr and MMDA issued a reminder to motorists to respect the exclusivity of the EDSA Busway.^[45]
• According to the MMDA, some motorists were taking advantage of the ₱1,000 fine for trespassing on the busway by offenders who could afford regularly paying it. As a result, the MMDA issued MMDA Regulation 23-002, increasing fines for both public and private vehicles.^[46]

Current fines

As of November 13, 2023, the fines for illegally trespassing the EDSA Busway are as follows: ^[47]

• First offense - ₱5,000
• Second offense - ₱10,000 with a one-month suspension of driver’s license and mandatory road safety seminar
• Third offense - ₱20,000 with a one-year suspension of driver’s license
• Fourth offense - ₱30,000 with a recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for the revocation of driver’s license

The new fines came into effect through the passing of Metro Manila Council Resolution 23-002. Any driver who attempts to flee from officers automatically incurs a third offense.^[46]

See also

• List of bus routes in Metro Manila
• Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System

References

External links

• Media related to EDSA Carousel at Wikimedia Commons
• MMDA Regulation No. 20-002 s. 2020

This page was last edited on 12 April 2024, at 13:30