EDSA Carousel
The EDSA Carousel is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system operating along the 24-kilometer Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the primary north-south arterial road in Metro Manila, Philippines, utilizing dedicated bus lanes to deliver high-capacity public transport amid severe traffic congestion.[1] Launched on July 1, 2020, as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 pandemic to rationalize bus routes and increase transport capacity while the MRT-3 rail system underwent rehabilitation, it features articulated buses in convoy formations serving 27 stops from Monumento in Caloocan to Taft Avenue in Pasay.[2][3] The system integrates with existing rail lines such as MRT-3 and LRT-1, aiming to handle up to 600,000 daily trips through 500 buses operating at peak headways of three minutes.[4] Despite initial free rides to encourage adoption, the EDSA Carousel has demonstrated substantial ridership growth, transporting over 63 million passengers in 2024 and more than 5.5 million in January 2025 alone, underscoring its role in providing reliable mobility in a region plagued by oversupply of unregulated buses and infrastructure bottlenecks.[5][6] The dedicated lanes have enabled faster travel times compared to mixed-traffic conditions, though empirical assessments reveal challenges in maintaining exclusivity due to persistent violations by private vehicles, including instances involving politicians and law enforcement personnel.[7] Controversies have centered on enforcement laxity, safety incidents, and policy debates, including proposals for privatization and even discontinuation of the busway in early 2025, which were countered by data highlighting its efficiency and commuter dependence, leading to presidential endorsement for continuation with enhancements.[8][5][9] While the system's causal impact on reducing overall EDSA congestion remains limited by incomplete network integration and external demand pressures, it represents a pragmatic, low-cost intervention prioritizing empirical transport reforms over expansive infrastructure projects.[10]Historical Development
Background and Conception
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a 23.8-kilometer circumferential highway encircling Metro Manila, originated as a two-lane boulevard in the 1930s under President Manuel L. Quezon but expanded significantly post-World War II to accommodate growing urbanization and vehicle traffic. By the 2010s, EDSA carried over 400,000 vehicles daily, including thousands of buses, leading to chronic gridlock with average speeds dropping below 20 kilometers per hour during peak hours, far exceeding the road's design capacity of around 300,000 vehicles per day.[11] The corridor's public transport relied heavily on unregulated buses and jeepneys competing in mixed traffic, compounded by capacity constraints of the parallel MRT Line 3, which opened in 1999 but suffered from frequent breakdowns and insufficient rolling stock, handling only about 500,000 passengers daily against peak demand exceeding 800,000.[1] In response to these bottlenecks, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) initiated studies for bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in Metro Manila, including an Asian Development Bank-funded feasibility assessment for an EDSA BRT line completed in 2015, which proposed dedicated lanes, elevated stations, and priority signaling to achieve speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour but was shelved due to funding and planning hurdles.[1] By 2017, amid the launch of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program aimed at consolidating routes and phasing out outdated vehicles, DOTr outlined two initial BRT corridors, positioning EDSA as a priority for a simplified busway to augment rail services and enforce route rationalization, reducing the estimated 8,000 daily bus trips along the avenue to streamlined loops.[1][12] The EDSA Carousel concept crystallized under DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, appointed in 2016 during the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure push, evolving from earlier bus segregation schemes tested by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority into a dedicated inner-lane busway for "carousel" services—looping routes designed to minimize stops, improve headways to under 2 minutes, and integrate with existing terminals at North and South Luzon Expressway interchanges.[4] This approach prioritized operational reforms over costly full BRT infrastructure, such as at-grade lanes separated by concrete barriers to exclude private vehicles, drawing on empirical observations of bus bunching and dwell times exceeding 60 seconds at informal stops, though critics noted it deviated from international BRT standards by lacking enclosed stations or advanced fare collection at inception.[13][14] The design reflected causal analysis of EDSA's bottlenecks, where mixed-traffic interference accounted for up to 40% of delays, aiming to reclaim capacity for buses serving over 1 million daily commuters without expanding the roadway footprint.[4]Implementation During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic created conditions conducive to rapid implementation of the EDSA Carousel, as nationwide lockdowns from mid-March 2020 onward suspended most public transport operations and sharply reduced private vehicle traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).[1] This environment enabled the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to reallocate median lanes for exclusive bus use with limited opposition from motorists.[15] The initiative formed part of emergency transport reforms under the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, aiming to restore mobility while enforcing social distancing and capacity limits on remaining rail services like MRT Line 3.[10] Planning accelerated in late May 2020, leveraging the crisis to bypass typical bureaucratic delays in bus route rationalization and infrastructure setup.[15] Dedicated bus lanes were demarcated using concrete barriers and signage from Monumento to Taft Avenue, spanning approximately 23 kilometers, with initial enforcement relying on traffic aides and CCTV monitoring.[16] Interim service began on June 1, 2020, deploying around 100 buses from consolidated fleets to operate point-to-point routes with priority boarding at temporary stops.[17] Full operations launched on July 1, 2020, expanding to over 200 buses daily and integrating health protocols such as mandatory masks, temperature checks, and contactless Beep card payments to mitigate virus transmission risks.[18] Implementation faced initial hurdles including operator resistance to route consolidation and supply chain disruptions for bus maintenance amid lockdowns, yet low traffic volumes—down over 90% from pre-pandemic levels—facilitated swift lane installation without major construction halts.[19] The system initially recorded subdued ridership, averaging under 50,000 passengers daily in June 2020 due to persistent quarantine fears and economic contraction, compared to EDSA's pre-crisis volume of over 1 million commuters.[3] Despite these, the rollout demonstrated policy capacity in crisis response, converting opportunistic reforms into a semi-permanent bus rapid transit framework.[1]Opening and Early Operations
The EDSA Busway, operating under the EDSA Carousel service, initiated interim operations on July 1, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic's transportation restrictions, which limited MRT-3 capacity to 25% and prompted the need for augmented mass transit along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).[20] The rollout featured dedicated bus lanes in the inner median, enforced by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), with initial service spanning from the Monumento interchange in Caloocan to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, covering approximately 24 kilometers.[21] On launch day, 150 modernized buses—procured through a government service contracting program with operators like DSV Transport—were deployed, operating at reduced headways to prioritize social distancing and capacity of up to 50 passengers per vehicle under health protocols.[21] [1] Early operations emphasized temporary infrastructure, including curbside and median loading zones at key interchanges like Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, and Ayala, with platforms adapted from existing sidewalks due to the expedited pandemic response.[1] Free rides, or "libreng sakay," were provided until July 31, 2020, to encourage adoption during general community quarantine (GCQ) phases, though actual ridership remained low initially—estimated below pre-pandemic levels—owing to ongoing lockdowns and public hesitancy.[22] The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) oversaw fleet modernization, drawing from 1,100 buses rationalized under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, but enforcement challenges emerged, including private vehicle intrusions into bus lanes and coordination gaps with traffic enforcers.[3] By late 2020, operations stabilized with incremental expansions, such as added stops and improved signaling, but faced criticisms over inconsistent bus frequencies during peak hours and integration issues with feeder jeepneys displaced by the lane conversions.[3] Initial data indicated average daily trips of around 100,000 passengers in the first months, serving as a critical lifeline for essential workers while highlighting the system's role as an interim bus rapid transit (BRT) augmentation to rail services.[1] These early phases laid the groundwork for Phase 1 completion by 2021, prioritizing reliability over full BRT standards like enclosed stations, which were deferred amid fiscal constraints.[10]System Design and Operations
Route Configuration and Stops
The EDSA Carousel, designated as Route 1, operates along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major arterial road in Metro Manila spanning approximately 24 kilometers from the northern terminus at Monumento in Caloocan City to the southern terminus at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Pasay.[23] The route traverses six cities—Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay—utilizing dedicated bus lanes in the median and curbside areas, segregated by concrete barriers to prioritize bus movement over general traffic.[23] Stops are designed with platforms accessible via existing pedestrian footbridges and underpasses, enhancing safety and connectivity.[24] The system integrates with rail infrastructure at multiple points, including MRT Line 3 stations (North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, Ortigas, Santolan-Anonas, Guadalupe, Buendia, and Ayala) and LRT Line 1 stations (Balintawak and Roosevelt), facilitating transfers for passengers.[2] Most stops feature median platforms for express services, with some curbside configurations in denser urban segments; recent enhancements include the addition of Philam and Kamuning stations in July 2024 to improve coverage in Quezon City.[25] The route supports bidirectional travel, with slight variations in stop counts: 22 northbound and 24 southbound as of 2025.[23]Southbound Stops (Monumento to PITX)
- Monumento (median, Caloocan)
- Bagong Barrio (median, Caloocan)
- LRT-1 Balintawak (median, Quezon City)
- Kaingin Road (median, Quezon City)
- LRT-1 Roosevelt (median, Quezon City)
- SM North EDSA (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 North Avenue (Quezon City)
- Philam (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 Quezon Avenue (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 Kamuning (Quezon City)
- Nepa Q Mart (Quezon City)
- Main Avenue (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 Santolan (Mandaluyong/San Juan)
- MRT-3 Ortigas (Mandaluyong)
- MRT-3 Guadalupe (Mandaluyong/Makati)
- MRT-3 Buendia (Makati)
- Ayala/One Ayala (Makati)
- Tramo (Pasay)
- Taft Avenue (median, Pasay)
- Roxas Boulevard (Pasay)
- SM Mall of Asia (Pasay)
- DFA Aseana (Pasay)
- Ayala Malls by the Bay (Pasay)
- PITX (terminal, Pasay)
Northbound Stops (PITX to Monumento)
- PITX (terminal, Pasay)
- City of Dreams/DFA Aseana (Pasay)
- Roxas Boulevard (eastbound, Pasay)
- Taft Avenue (eastbound, Pasay)
- MRT-3 Ayala (Makati)
- MRT-3 Buendia (Makati)
- MRT-3 Guadalupe (Makati/Mandaluyong)
- MRT-3 Ortigas (Mandaluyong)
- MRT-3 Santolan (Mandaluyong/[San Juan](/page/San Juan))
- Main Avenue (Quezon City)
- Nepa Q Mart (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 Kamuning (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 Quezon Avenue (Quezon City)
- Philam (Quezon City)
- MRT-3 North Avenue (Quezon City)
- SM North EDSA (Quezon City)
- LRT-1 Roosevelt (Quezon City)
- Kaingin Road (Quezon City)
- LRT-1 Balintawak (Quezon City)
- Bagong Barrio (Caloocan)
- Monumento (median, Caloocan)