No double parking at Fuente, Rama says

The management of the Rajah Park Hotel is asking the Cebu City government to have the innermost lane from the sidewalk as an open space lane, with the next lane used as diagonal parking.
(CDN FILE PHOTO)

Motorists passing through Fuente Osmeña Circle will have to adjust to a new parking layout made by Cebu City Hall that takes effect today.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama met with officials of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) and representatives of Rajah Park Hotel located near the rotunda yesterday to discuss two route schemes.

The first one will use the innermost lane from the sidewalk as parallel parking, the next second lane as a space for those who want to drop off or pick up in the area and the third lane as another parallel parking site.

The second one proposed by the hotel’s management will have the innermost lane from the sidewalk as an open space lane.

The next lane after the space will have diagonal parking perpendicular to the sidewalk.

No backing
Cars moving out of the parking area will not be allowed to go on reverse in going out to the rotunda.

They can only move going to the innermost free lane nearest the hotel to get out of the parking area.

Rama has told the Citom to paint “the ”No Backing” markings on the road to warn drivers.

“Citom will be coming up with the best solution and it will be implemented (starting today). There will be no more double parking,” Rama told reporters yesterday.

The mayor pointed out that there are several business establishments in the Fuente rotunda but they don’t have enough space since the lanes nearest the sidewalk are used as parking space.

New gate
He also wants the current gate from the Fuente circle which connects directly in front of the Rajah Park Hotel with a pedestrian lane to be moved.

He wants to open a new gate near the existing one and have the pedestrian lane lead beside the hotel instead of in front.

Rama said he will also be meeting with the Lhuillier group to fast track their proposal to do a facelift and beautify the Fuente Osmeña circle.

As of 6 pm yesterday, Citom executive director Victor Caindec said they’re still finalizing which layout plan to implement today. Rama also revived plans to remove skywalks in the city.

“All skywalks, mostly in the north (district) are obstructions to the sidewalks. Skywalks are not utilized, it’s a waste of public funds,” Rama told reporters yesterday.

Skywalks
He cited several skywalks like those in Osmena Boulevard, Abellana, Robinsons, Camputhaw, Banilad, Day-as and other areas that are not always used by people.

Rama challenged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to review the viability of skywalks since they implemented the project.

He also challenged utilities obstructing the roads to also remove their poles and other equipment or else he’ll “declare war” against them very soon.

Asked what exactly he will do, Rama said “abangan ang susunod (watch what happens next).”

He said these preparations are in anticipation of the coming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) next year.