MMDA considers ending EDSA Bus Carousel if MRT-3 can handle load

The MMDA is considering ending the EDSA Bus Carousel, but only if the MRT-3 can handle its passenger load and the train system becomes fully interconnected.

During a Wednesday press briefing, MMDA Chairperson Don Artes noted that while both systems serve parts of EDSA, their routes do not perfectly overlap, with the bus carousel operating 7 days a week compared to limited hours for the MRT-3.

Despite this, DOTr highlighted on Wednesday and Thursday that the EDSA busway transported over 63 million commuters in 2024 alone, averaging 177,000 daily riders in January 2025.

DOTr emphasized that the dedicated lane for buses makes the service much safer for passengers and offers faster travel times than other modes of transport on EDSA.

The department believes that scrapping the busway is not on the table even in the near future, as bidding for its continuation was announced to begin this year.