Two New Stations Enhance the EDSA Busway, Elevators and AI Technologies Improve Accessibility and Efficiency

QUEZON CITY — The EDSA Busway system, a crucial component of Metro Manila’s public transportation, now includes two new stations in Quezon City, expanding the total to 23 stops along the route. The additions aim to improve accessibility and reduce travel times for the city’s commuters.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Romando Artes, who spoke at the inauguration on Monday, the new stations, Philam and Kamuning, enhance service capabilities, with Philam notably featuring an elevator to aid senior citizens and persons with disabilities. “The EDSA busway boasts of a smart traffic surveillance system where 166 CCTV cameras are installed, 21 with artificial intelligence or AI technologies, along the entire Busway route from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard, to monitor the time allowed for buses to load and unload passengers as well as drivers’ violations intended to make commuter trips faster and more efficient,” Artes explained.

The inauguration also highlighted improvements to existing stations including Guadalupe, Santolan, and Balintawak, with several stations now equipped with three elevators each, promoting increased use of the Busway. The updates are part of broader efforts, funded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which include the installation of a sophisticated AI-enabled traffic surveillance system to ensure compliance and enhance operational efficiency.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, also present at the event, emphasized the impact of these upgrades on the commuter experience. He detailed additional infrastructure enhancements such as the construction of new pedestrian footbridges, rehabilitation of existing ones, installation of ramps for persons with disabilities, and improved drainage systems. “The installation of elevators provides a comfortable, affordable, safe, and secure, accessible travel experience to passengers,” Bautista said.

These improvements are aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Philippine Development Plan, aiming to increase the daily passenger count and streamline travel along one of the busiest corridors in the nation. The EDSA Busway, initially launched in 2020 during the pandemic, has significantly reduced travel time from three hours to just one and a half hours across EDSA from Monumento to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.