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6.1 Introduction
Zamboanga
City, one of the largest cities in the
world in terms of land area, has a low
population density of 1,102 persons
per square km (or 11 persons per ha.)
in 1995. However, urban development
has been concentrated just within 7
km. radius from the city core thus
creating a number of problems related
to provision of basic services, one of
which is transportation.
6.2
Circulation
Network
6.2.1 Land Transportation
The number
of registered motor vehicles in
Zamboanga City is about 44% of the
total for the whole region IX despite
the relatively low motor vehicle
registration within the city
(estimated at 5 vehicles per 100
population), heavy congestion has been
a major problem (Table VI-1).
Table
VI-1. Motor Vehicle Registration,
1996
|
|
For Hire |
Private |
Government |
Total |
|
Region IX |
14,685 |
41,561 |
2247 |
58,493 |
|
Zamboanga City
(%) |
6,297
(42.88) |
18,526
(44.58) |
1,108
(49.31) |
25,931
(44.33) |
| |
Source of
basic data: Land Transportation
Office, Region IX
Road Network
The tables
below show the road length by system
classification and surface type within
Zamboanga City. The road density of
Zamboanga City is roughly 1.04-km.per
sq.km based on 1990 data (Table
VI-12). This ration is good enough in
terms of accessibility (The country’s
average density is about 0.56 km. per
sq. km). However, it must be noted
that more than 300 km. – barangay
roads within the city are of the
gravel type (Table VI-3).
Table
VI-2. 1990 Road Length by System
Classification
|
Category |
Length, km. |
|
Natural Road |
136.965 |
|
City
Road |
40.936 |
|
Barangay Road |
303.277 (all gravel) |
|
TOTAL |
481.178 |
| |
Table
VI-3. Existing National Road Length,
km., 1996
|
Surface Type |
Road Length, km. |
% |
|
Concrete |
55.81 |
39.01 |
|
Asphalt |
12.29 |
8.59 |
|
Gravel |
74.95 |
52.40 |
|
Total |
143.05 |
100.00 |
| |
City Proper
The road
network within the city proper was
originally planned for horse-driven
calesas. No adjustments were made even
when big commercial establishment
continued to develop. This led to
small blocks with narrow roads.
Intersections became very close to
each other causing frequent
interruptions in traffic flow due to
lack of appropriate traffic
management.
There is
no clear separation of vehicles and
pedestrians as most sidewalks are
occupied be vendors. There is
particularly no control over the
pedestrians – they can cross anywhere
and are not restricted to use the
carriageway. This practice definitely
reduces the capacity of the road
network. This also adds to the high
risk of accident occurrence.
Off-street
parking has aggravated the situation
of the road network. Due to lack of
off-street parking facilities, on
street parking and in particular,
diagonal parking is being practiced on
many streets. Effectively, parked
vehicles occupy almost two-thirds of
the total road width.
Urban
Public Transport Modes
Public
transport modes range from the
non-motorized pedicabs to buses. The
city mainly depends on jeepneys
(utility vehicles for hire) and
tricycles for commuting to an from
work and school. Buses largely serve
provincial trips. The tables below
show the number of registered motor
vehicles and pedicabs as shown in
Tables VI-4 and 5.
Table
VI-4. Number of Motor Vehicles
Registered
By classification and Type, 1996
|
|
For Hire |
Private |
Government |
Total |
|
Car |
5 |
1925 |
17 |
1947 |
|
Utility Vehicle |
1728 |
6212 |
627 |
8567 |
|
Trucks |
26 |
1657 |
79 |
1762 |
|
Buses |
146 |
43 |
7 |
196 |
|
Motorcycle
Tricycle |
4383 |
8591 |
376 |
13350 |
|
Trailers |
8 |
98 |
2 |
108 |
|
TOTAL |
6296 |
18526 |
1108 |
25930 |
| |
Source:
Office of basic data: LTO, Region IX
Table
VI-5. Registered Pedicabs and
Tricycles, 1993
|
Pedicabs |
1,220 |
|
Tricycles |
3,080 |
| |
Source:
Office of the City Mayor, Z.C.
Except on
a few roads and streets, the tricycles
operated in all national and city
roads. Under Ordinance No.185 as
approved in October 1996, it was
decided not to phase out motorized
tricycles mainly due to the employment
opportunities. Many operators and
drivers depend solely on their
earnings for their basic needs.
Pedicabs have
been limited to barangay areas
particularly serving subdivisions.
TRAFFIC
STUDIES
1.
Roads
Inventory Survey
An
inventory survey was conducted
covering city and barangay roads in
Zamboanga City, The study shoed that
more than 90 percent of the city roads
are made of concrete. The majority,
however, of barangay roads still
remain unpaved with 81 percent of the
total road length consisting of gravel
surface. The table below shows the
total length of roads by pavement
type.
Table
VI-6. Total Length of Roads by
Permanent Type (in Km)
|
|
Concrete |
Gravel |
Unpaved |
Total |
|
City
Roads |
16.375 |
0.452 |
1.055 |
17.882 |
|
Percent of Total |
91.6 |
2.5 |
5.9 |
100.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Concrete |
Asphalt |
Gravel |
Total |
|
Barangay Roads |
101.965 |
11.059 |
484.8 |
597.878 |
|
Percent of Total |
17.1 |
1.8 |
81.1 |
100.0 |
| |
2. Intersection Volume Count
Classified
14-hour intersection volume counts
were conducted at ten (10) stations,
namely:
a)
Sta. Cruz
(Veterans Ave./Gov. Camins Ave.)
b)
R.T.
Lim Boulevard
c)
San Roque/Suterville
d)
Pilar St.
e)
Veterans Ave./Gov. Alvarez
f)
Veterans Ave./Gov. Lim Avenue
(General Hospital)
g)
Canelar
(Mayor Jaldon/Gov. Alvarez)
h)
Sta.
Maria Road/Gov. Ramos Road
i)
Gov.
Camins Ave./Jaldon St.
j)
San
Jose Rd./Baliwasan Chico Road
3. Supplementary Volume Counts
at Cordon Station
Supplementary 24-hour midblock traffic
volume counts were conducted at 2
stations, Putik on the East Coast and
Southcom on the West Coast. The table
VI-7 shows the traffic volume and
vehicle composition for inbound and
outbound direction.
Table
VI-7. Traffic Volume in ADT by
Station
|
Station |
Traffic Volume
(In ADT) |
|
Putik
(East Coast)
Car
Jeepneys
Tricycle
Buses
Trucks
Total*
Others
Total** |
2201
3053
2136
411
1428
9229
3497
12726
|
| |
|
Station |
Traffic Volume
(In ADT) |
|
Southcom
(West Coast)
Car
Jeepneys
Tricycle
Buses
Trucks
Total*
Others
Total**
|
3810
2308
4125
104
1025
11372
4243
15615 |
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