Toll plazas at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) have remained congestion-free despite recent increase in traffic volume following the improvements undertaken by its operator.
NLEX Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), said while it is currently working on some upgrades involving radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas and account management systems, it has carried out several measures to help control the congestion at the toll plazas.
These include ongoing enhancements in the RFID system for faster reading, repositioning of RFID installation sites, and relocation of cash and reloading lanes at the right side of the toll plazas for better traffic flow.
NLEX has also fielded more than 1,000 personnel to assist motorists and intensified its communication campaign, especially on reloading procedures for both new and existing RFID subscribers.
As a result, the tollway company said light traffic has been recorded at NLEX-SCTEX toll plazas in the recent weeks even during the holiday rush, as operational and system developments continue to improve customer service and provide motorists with a more convenient travel.
“We are delighted that even with the recent spike in traffic figures, we have not seen our toll plazas getting jam-packed,” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.
“This is all because of the ongoing refinements we are employing to raise our level of service, not to mention that more motorists now prefer to use RFID instead of paying in cash,” he said.
Throughout the holidays, NLEX said the improvements it has undertaken proved to be effective, as there was no reported traffic buildup in all major toll plazas.
This was despite average daily traffic at the NLEX-SCTEX reaching 323,000 from December 18, 2020 to January 4, 2021, which was higher by 3,000 compared to the traffic volume in the first two weeks of December.
NLEX also pointed out that even with the additional traffic volume brought by the opening of the Skyway Stage 3, traffic was effectively managed, and no congestion was encountered in Balintawak where the on and off ramps of the said elevated road are situated.
The entire MPTC network, comprised of NLEX, SCTEX, Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), has installed a total of 2,076,252 RFID stickers from August 2020 up to January 10.
It has made available 53 installations sites in customer service centers, gasoline stations, and after the toll plazas. Special RFID installation events are also ongoing, and RFID installations sites will be continuously available.