RTA wants 14-hour truck ban on Recto

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) has proposed a 14-hour truck ban on CM Recto Avenue.

In a recommendation, Task Force Hapsay Dalan chairman and RTA overseer Jose Edgardo Uy proposed a ban on trucks with 4,500-kilogram loads or more and those that tow trailers on the major road from 6 am to 8 pm.

He said there is already an existing truck ban in the central business district, including the central area of Carmen and the Puerto market area. The ban, he said, exempts trucks on the the main highway.

“It has been observed that the number of motor vehicles plying the Recto highway has more than doubled such that the volume could hardly be carried by the size of the road. This, plus the undisciplined motorists who grab oncoming lanes when the first opportunity comes, results in traffic congestions even along the highway stretch from Lapasan, towards the east in Tin-ao,” he said.

He said the existing truck ban should be expanded to include the Recto highway.

“Delivery trucks may use the highway outside of those hours only,” Uy said.

Uy has also appealed to councilors to accept the RTA’s Traffic Management Plan (TMP) to improve the vehicular traffic situation in the city.

Uy said the 15-page plan collates all major programs, projects, and activities of the RTA along with its recommendations.

He said the TMP is a plan to specifically and clearly direct and control traffic disruptions that call for coordinated actions. It covers not only specific roadwork and trafficelated programs and projects, but also the enhancement of managerial capabilities of the RTA and the strengthening of the organization.

The local finance committee has given the green light to the RTA’s proposed P90-million budget for 2017 but some councilors find the TMP lacking.

Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said TMP lacked planning strategies on enforcement, engineering and environment.

“Pirmi lang nakakita sa problema pero walay plano kung unsaon kini nato pagsulbad,” said Lao.

Councilor Reuben Daba said the TMP was apparently hurriedly made.

“Overnight kini nga gihimo nga plano. Mas maayo kadtong comprehensive nga dunay feedback from all sectors,” Daba said.

Councilor Enrico Salcedo said the RTA has not given any assurance that it would be able to solve the city’s traffic problems next year.

“Nakahimo kuno og TMP apan wala makahatag og assurance to solve the traffic in 2017. Kinahanglan na gayud kita og traffic rerouting. At least mahibalo kita kay nagkinahanglan kini og ordinance. Mas baga pa ang plano sa barangay,” Salcedo said.