MALOLOS
CITY—The Tollways Management Corporations (TMC) is now implementing a real time
travel advisory for the expressways north of Manila, saying it’s the first of
its kind in the country.
The
travel advisory is available online on www.tollways.net.ph and can be viewed on
desktop computers or mobile gadgets like smartphones and ad IPads.
“This
is one of two innovations we are implementing in time for the Halloween
weekend,” said Benigno Valles, TMC senior manager for corporate communications.
The
other innovation is the Lakbay Norte Pass which will ensure faster transactions
on toll plaza’s as motorists will not have to pay cash for toll fee.
Valles
said that both innovations were designed for the motorists’ comfort especially
those who will travel to provinces north of Manila before and after the All
Saints day weekend.
Like
in the past, the TMC which operates the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is expecting a 15 to 20 percent increase
in traffic volume on both expressways before and after the Halloween break.
Records
show that average daily traffic volume along the NLEX is at least 155,000
vehicles. It is expected to climb to about 200,000.
Valles
said that with the new innovations, motorists can plan their travel.
He
added, “if they monitored that traffic flow along NLEx is slow, they can stop
and rest for the meantime at gas stations along the expressway.”
Updated every minute, the TMC website
according to Valles not only shows traffic conditions on real time basis and
real time travel time from one toll plaza to another. It also provides advisory
in case of accidents or road repairs.
He
said that it can also be accessed using smartphones with internet connection,
but he also advised drivers to have a navigator to read the advisories for them
while driving.
With
regards to the Lakbay Norte pass launched last week, he said that it can be
used from October 31 to November 4 by motorists driving Class 1 vehicle cars
and passenger vans.
A
magnetic swipe card, the Lakbay Norte Pass is a prepaid toll card available to
Class 1 vehicles going to Dau, Tarlac and Subic and those travelling back to
Manila.
However,
Valles said that Lakbay Norte Pass has only one way value with specific areas
for use.
The
one way trip toll value of the prepaid cards are as follows, P218 for vehicles
traveling NLEx Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Dau or vice versa; P322.for NLEx
Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Tarlac or vice versa and P408 for NLEx
Balintawak/Mindanao Avenue to Subic or vice versa .
Lanes
dedicated to Lakbay Norte Pass holders are located at the Balintawak, Mindanao
Avenue, Dau, Bocaue Tarlac and Subic toll gates.
The
Lakbay Norte Pass can be bought at the NLEx Customer Service Centers in
Balintawak, Valenzuela, Bocaue, Tabang and San Fernando and Shell stations in
A. Bonifacio, Mindanao Avenue, Barangay Bahay Toro and Santolan, Quezon City,
Buendia, Makati and at the SBMA Tipo Total Gas station.
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