SM to build Edsa busway concourses

*_{A city bus running along the Edsa busway.}*

The SM Group is investing P120 million to build 3 concourses for the Edsa Busway, which will be a permanent addition to the transportation options post-pandemic.

Steven Tan, the president of SM Supermalls, said his group is building 3 concourse and access bridge facilities near SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, and SM Mall of Asia.

Allowing for a more efficient, safe, and convenient way of boarding and alighting Edsa Busway units, each concourse will feature ticketing booths, automatic fare collection system turnstiles, and concierges.

“SM invested over P120 million for this project. We really aspire to provide a convenient, fast and safe commuting experience—we’re expecting thousands of them daily,” Tan said.

In partnership with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), SM Group broke ground for the project on Tuesday. Actual construction works will start next month, and all three concourse facilities should be completed within 10 months.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said building such facilities—almost akin to the Trans-Jakarta Bus Rapid Transit—will also have provisions for mobility features intended for the elderly and persons with disability.

“With the Edsa Busway, we are not just changing the system, but also the culture of road usage. We are inculcating the values, discipline and compliance to ordinance for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor noted that the Edsa Busway will be a permanent addition to the transport options for Edsa commuters even after the pandemic.

“For the DOTr, the Edsa Busway is a permanent addition to Edsa, as it will change the landscape of Edsa in general as well as traffic management. We have proven that it is effective as we have reduced travel time from 3.5 hours to 1 hour,” he said.

Pastor noted that the DOTr is currently finalizing the projects for the construction of other concourses in partnership with listed companies such as Double Dragon and Wenceslao Group.

“We will not stop until we improve the Edsa Busway, that’s why we will introduce more development and upgrades in the Edsa Busway soon,” he said.

Tugade noted that the Edsa Busway System is just part of his group’s efforts to improve the perennial traffic along the main highway in the capital region.

“The Edsa Busway System along with other projects such as the Metro Manila Subway, the massive rehabilitation of the MRT 3 and Edsa Greenways, Bike Lanes, and other projects that we are currently finishing, are important components for what we call the Edsa Transformation.”

Article and Photo originally posted by Business Mirror last May 19, 2021 and written by Lorenz S. Marasigan.