MMDA to shut down U-turn slots in C-5 road

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http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20071023met4.html

[SIZE=2]The Daily Tribune
Tuesday, October 23, 2007

MMDA to shut down U-turn slots in C-5 road
Ben Gines Jr.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) may no longer authorize the use of the U-turn slots along the C-5 portion of Ortigas and Libis in Quezon City after the agency found out that the U-turn slots were causing traffic flow to slow down in the area.

The MMDA’s decision to close the U-turn slots last August was opposed by operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) who claimed the move has disrupted their operations since they now have to take a longer route to complete their trips.

Claiming their fuel expenses have increased as a result of the closure, operators and drivers of PUJs have since launched a series of rallies to demand MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando to reopen the slots.

Fernando, citing comparative studies conducted by the Traffic Engineering Center (TEC), said the move to shut down the U-turn slots has proved to be wise.

According to the TEC study, the closure of the U-turn slots has resulted in the improvement of traffic flow along the traffic-prone portion of C-5 from Libis and Ortigas.

Fernando explained that the flow of northbound and southbound motor vehicles in the subject portion of C-5 has considerably improved after they have closed the U-turn slots in August, as compared to the situation in January of last year when the U-turn slots were first opened.

According to the travel time survey conducted by the MMDA-TEC, in the northbound lanes, there was a 40-percent decrease in travel time when the U-turn slot was open while there was 25-percent increase in travel speed when the slot was closed.

In the southbound lanes, there was a 56-percent decrease in travel time when the U-turn slot was still open while a 40-percent increase in travel speed was recorded when it was closed.
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