Light traffic has been recorded at NLEX-SCTEX toll plazas in the recent weeks even during the holiday rush, as operational and system developments are continuing to improve customer service and provide motorists with a more convenient travel.
NLEX Corporation said that while it is currently working on some upgrades involving radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas and account management systems, it has carried out several measures to help control the congestion at the toll plazas. These include ongoing enhancements in the RFID system for faster reading, repositioning of RFID installation sites and relocation of cash and reloading lanes at the right side of the toll plazas for better traffic flow. The tollway company has also fielded more than 1,000 personnel to assist motorists and intensified its communication campaign especially on reloading procedures for both new and existing RFID subscribers.
Throughout the holidays, these improvements proved to be effective, as there was no reported traffic buildup in all major toll plazas. This was despite the NLEX-SCTEX average daily traffic reaching 323,000 from December 18, 2020 to January 4, 2021, which was higher by 3,000 versus traffic volume in the first two weeks of December 2020.
NLEX also noted that even with the additional traffic volume brought by the opening of the Skyway Stage 3, traffic was effectively managed, and no congestion was encountered in Balintawak where the on and off ramps of the said elevated road are situated.
“We are delighted that even with the recent spike in traffic figures, we have not seen our toll plazas getting jampacked. This is all because of the ongoing refinements we are employing to raise our level of service, not to mention that more motorists now prefer to use RFID instead of paying in cash,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.
As of January 10, the entire Metro Pacific Tollways network, comprised of NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, and CALAX, has installed a total of 2,076,252 RFID stickers since the release of the DOTr’s Department Order 2020-012 last August 2020. There are 53 installations sites in customer service centers, gasoline stations, and after the toll plazas. Special RFID installation events are also ongoing, and RFID installations sites will be continuously available.
To date, around 85% of motorists are using RFID in the MPTC tollways.