BAGUIO CITY – Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has been directed to update the feasibility study for its proposed Smart Urban Mobility Project (SUMP) as the City Council reviews the proposal for a possible public-private partnership.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the council requested an updated study because the original one was completed three years ago.
“We need updated, evidence-based data to effectively address our existing traffic congestion problems,” Magalong said.
He said the Land Transportation Office has recorded 57,000 registered vehicles in the city.
“With new vehicles being registered daily, we need data-driven information for innovative solutions to ease road congestion,” Magalong said.
For decades, the Baguio City Police Office’s Traffic Management Branch, the city government and local officials have implemented various traffic schemes to address worsening congestion, particularly during the peak tourism season, but with limited success.
Magalong first proposed a smart mobility system as a long-term solution to the city’s traffic problems.
More than three years ago, MPTC submitted an unsolicited proposal that includes advanced transport technologies, such as a monorail system serving the central business district to reduce the number of vehicles entering the area. The proposal was shelved but has recently been revived for review.
The proposal also includes a monorail network connecting the central business district and villages to reduce the number of public utility vehicles on city streets.
An earlier proposal to impose a PHP250 congestion fee for vehicles using Session Road was withdrawn following negative public feedback.
“We have experienced waiting in long lines during our daily commute and getting stuck in traffic jams. That is why we continue to pursue this SUMP as a comprehensive solution,” Magalong said.
During a recent City Development Council meeting, the MPTC said it is preparing the updated feasibility study in partnership with a firm that uses artificial intelligence-powered traffic analytics.
The project’s proof of concept is expected to be completed within three months. **Liza Agoot
