DOTr signs agreements to kick-start construction of EDSA Greenways project
After several delays, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed on Monday, Sept, 25, two agreements with its partners in the construction of the P14 billion EDSA Greenways that is aimed at improving walkways along the country’s busiest thoroughfare.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and will be the first ever pedestrian-centered road infrastructure that includes improving pedestrian facilities and enhancing accessibility.
"We want to fast-track this project to be able connect pedestrian networks to train stations along EDSA and enhance the overall urban environment and transport connectivity in the identified areas," said Bautista during the ceremonial signing of EDSA Greenways Project's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
"The EDSA Greenways with the EDSA Busway and the bike lanes, showcase our efforts to revive the original character of EDSA as the most efficient artery on Metro Manila," he added.
According to the ADB website, the EDSA Busway project aims to improve the pedestrian environment in four areas where pedestrian facilities are poorly designed, uncomfortable, and unsafe.
The areas along EDSA are in Balintawak and Cubao in Quezon City, Guadalupe in Makati, and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
“The project will build or improve a total of 5 kilometers of covered elevated walkways around the four stations. Elevators will be attached to the elevated walkways to address the needs of the elderly, women, persons with disabilities, and people traveling with small children,” the ADB stated in the overview of the project on its website.
“The elevated walkways will be connected to mass transit stations to help promote the use of public transport. The Department of Transportation promotes walking as zero emission transport and develops flagship walkway projects as Greenways projects,” it added.
Bautista said the EDSA Greenways is a covered green walkway that will connect MRT-3 stations to other modes of transport.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding the DOTr signed with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), livelihood assistance package will be provided for residents and communities that will be affected by the project.
The DOTr-Philippine National Police agreement, on the other hand, aims to explore cooperative ways for the training, capacity-building, and protection of vulnerable sectors such as women and children.
Separate agreements were also signed with telecom companies to properly implement the relocation of utilities and cables, according to Bautista.