An expressway is supposed to provide faster travel. So if there’s constant gridlock, why should motorists pay full price?
As the worsening traffic condition along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) continues to affect thousands of motorists, Sen. Grace Poe has asked concerned officials to implement a reduction of toll rates in a bid to ease the distress of the riding public.
“Motorists deserve to pay less for the trouble the gridlock is causing due to the extension project. With the processional pace of traffic, is it too much to ask for a reduction in the toll imposed on motorists?” Poe said in a statement.
The traffic situation has worsened ever since three outermost lanes along the northbound lane of SLEX after Alabang Viaduct in Muntinlupa City have been closed to motorists to give way to the construction of the Skyway Extension project.
During the hearing of the proposed budget of the Department of Transportation, Poe said that motorists endure a slower pace of transportation along the expressway despite paying toll fees for the promise of faster travel to their destination.
Meanwhile, Abram Sales, executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said the agency intends to seek the assistance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to relieve the traffic situation along the expressway next week.
However, Poe questioned why the action has to be made next week, saying that the MMDA can be called on now for assistance.
The senator added that transportation officials should consider the situation along SLEX as an urgent matter since most of the motorists and commuters have no other way but to take the expressway.
In response, Sales said that they have relayed Poe’s proposal to implement a toll reduction to the TRB. – With Paolo Romero/STAR