JICA's traffic plan for Metro Manila takes us backward

In a November 28, 2022 press release, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced the approval of a five-year Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for Metro Manila. Given the prevailing mobility crisis and worsening road congestion, nothing would be more timely or more welcome than a massive effort to transform the mobility environment in the metropolis. I was hoping to see an approach that diverged from the many past failed strategies that led to the current crisis. I was disappointed, however, to find more of the same in the CTMP, which perpetuates the unsuccessful formula of prioritizing road space for private cars and pursuing faster private vehicle speeds rather than the safe and efficient movement of people.

In the world's major cities, solving traffic congestion and fighting climate change consists of making public transport, walking, and cycling the most attractive options for travel and introducing policies to curb the growth in private motor vehicle use so that car owners leave their vehicles at home. One lesson that has been learned painfully over many decades is that measures that focus on making private motor vehicles go faster are bound to fail because of the phenomenon of induced demand. Any congestion relief from an additional lane, new urban expressway or better traffic signals is only temporary; these end up attracting increased car use and soon after traffic is back to where it was before or worse.