MMDA eyes designated PUV stops along Commonwealth Ave.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) plans to install designated stops for public utility vehicles (PUVs) along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, in keeping with the creation of a dedicated motorbike lane on the busy street.

According to a news release from the MMDA, the agency’s acting chair, Carlo Dimayuga III, and acting general manager, Baltazar Melgar, met last Tuesday with representatives of the Quezon City local government unit and a number of jeepney operators to discuss the designation of bus and jeepney stops to ensure the safety of road users.

“There should be designated bus and jeepney stops for passengers as part of road safety. It’s about time to instill road discipline among all passenger vehicles,” Dimayuga said during the preliminary meeting at Barangay Commonwealth Hall.

Also present at the meeting were representatives of Pasang Masda, ACTO, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and UV Federation.

Dimayuga also asked for the assistance of the city government and jeepney operators in identifying the loading and unloading areas along Commonwealth Avenue.

“Through this, we could strategize on how the PUVs could maneuver to their designated stops. We would like to confine pedestrians to designated loading and unloading areas,” Dimayuga said.

Pasang Masda president Obet Martin welcomed the plan and thanked Dimayuga for addressing the concern of jeepney operators.

Prior to this, the Metro Manila Council, made up of the mayors of Metro Manila, reached a preliminary understanding to create a dedicated motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue.

The rightmost outermost lane of Commonwealth Avenue will be established as a dedicated bicycle lane under MMDA Resolution No. 22-15.

The second and third lanes of the same avenue will be reserved exclusively for motorcycle lanes and public utility vehicle lanes (for buses, UV Express, and jeeps, respectively).

All other motor vehicles will go on Commonwealth Avenue’s remaining lanes.