Strategic route planning of truck traffic in Metro Manila

• Main Author: Bacero, Riches S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Trucks—Routes—Philippines; Traffic regulations—Philippines; Transportation Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdd_civ/1; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=etdd_civ
• Institution: De La Salle University

Trucks play a significant role in the economic growth of the country, but these vehicles are not always properly considered in road planning, design, operations, and management. This study attempts to introduce behavioral intervention measures and travel demand management measures for truck route planning to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila. The study’s main consideration is the major routes available to truck traffic including truck ban routes, alternate truck routes, and potential truck routes such as Mabuhay lanes. GPS data loggers were used to track the movement of selected trucks from their origin to their destination. A face-to-face interview survey was conducted to know the perception of truck drivers on the truck operation and truck regulations that affect their routes. Survey results showed that most of the truck drivers have experienced difficulty with the existing truck policies in Metro Manila. Most of the truckers preferred two middle lanes for trucks on four-lane roads, and truck ban time should be implemented during morning peak hours. The willingness-to-pay of the truck drivers indicated a strong relationship with travel time-saving. Truck routes simulations were also performed to assess the impact of flooding on truck routes and proposed additional truck routes coupled with new and future transport infrastructure in Metro Manila. Simulation of the traffic network revealed that the impact of flooding reduced road capacities significantly slowing truck movement and increasing their travel times. On the impact of additional truck routes, the modeling results generally indicated that the proposed additional truck routes which increase the capacity of truck routes would improve vehicular traffic and level of service both for all Metro Manila roads and along truck routes. Another significant result in the simulation indicated that trucks should be contained on major roads. This signifies that the study has proven or supported the restriction of trucks in major thoroughfares with additional truck routes as a travel demand management measure to address traffic congestion. Finally, improvement of the capacity of truck routes and enhancement of truck policies considering all stakeholders, especially the truckers, were highly recommended to address and resolve the issues and challenges of truck traffic in Metro Manila.