MANILA, Philippines – How do you solve Makati’s traffic woes?

Through “close integration” with other entities, said Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. on the sidelines of the unveiling of a new traffic management center in the city.

Based on a study by road traffic management firm Abratique & Associates, 50-60% of Makati’s traffic problems can be cut back through proper integration — that is, between the central business district (CBD), the rest of Makati, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

“Going out of the CBD, there’s a different system. And MMDA has its own systems within the city,” Binay said. With the CBD’s traffic issues “practically done,” Binay said the next important step would be to sit down with the different traffic bodies to streamline traffic schemes.

‘Most advanced’ traffic management 

Close to 600,000 vehicles pass through Makati’s CBD daily, according to a 2012 study. It’s a problem the city’s new traffic management center wants to solve. Unveiled on Wednesday, August 14, it promises to be the “most advanced” in the country.

The P22-M project, will “make lives easier,” according to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. “I think that amount is still small compared to the bigger effort that needs to be done for the city,” he added.

The system includes “timing plans” in the city based on current traffic conditions. Streets with heavy traffic during peak hours can be programmed to flash the green light more. During off-peak hours, green lights are distributed equally throughout the city streets.

Vehicle sensors embedded on the streets will also signal the system to adjust to the volume of traffic, avoiding gridlocks. The project is a collaboration between the Makati Commercial Estate Association, the Makati Parking Authority, the city government and Abratique & Associates Philippines, Inc.

For the project’s first phase, vehicle sensors along Ayala and Makati avenues are connected to the traffic management center (TMC). In subsequent phases, all other intersections in the CBD will be linked to the TMC.

CCTVs in the TMC also allow the city government to catch traffic violators and rogue traffic enforcers. – Rappler.com