As ridership on the EDSA Bus
Carousel increases, infrastructure evolves to meet daily demand
Commuters no longer have to take the inconvenient walk
across EDSA to arrive at the SM Megamall station.
MANILA, Philippines, 28
August 2026 — More than 170,000 commuters board the EDSA Bus Carousel every
day to get to work, school, and everywhere in between — and that number keeps
climbing. As more Filipinos lean on the EDSA busway as their daily mode of
transport, the infrastructure around its busiest stations has had to keep pace.
One recent answer to that pressure: a direct walkway linking the bus station
straight to SM Megamall.
An Elevated Walkway That Skips the EDSA Crossing
The SM Megamall EDSA Busway
Concourse, opened to the public in April 2026, is an elevated,
weather-protected walkway connecting the EDSA Bus Carousel's SM Megamall
station directly to SM Megamall Building A — removing the need for commuters to
cross the long stretch of EDSA on foot. Escalators and elevators run along the
route, making sure the link actually works for commuters with disabilities,
senior citizens, and pregnant women, not just able-bodied pedestrians.
The SM Megamall busway link features escalators and
elevators for easier mobility from the entrance to exit points.
Built With DOTr, Serving Two Major Routes
The concourse was developed by
SM Supermalls in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), as
part of a joint push to improve the daily commuter experience. It connects
directly to the bus platform serving northbound trips to Monumento and
southbound trips to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
A Sign of Where Mall Design Is Headed
The project reflects a broader
shift in how Philippine malls are being designed — not just as shopping and
leisure destinations, but as functional nodes within the country's urban
mobility network. SM Megamall's busway link builds on a similar setup already
in place at SM North EDSA, suggesting this kind of direct transit connection
could be replicated at other SM malls positioned along major transit corridors.
Under the My SM campaign, SM Supermalls continues to frame
this as part of a larger commitment: making everyday activities like commuting
more seamless, comfortable, and safe for Filipinos. For more information,
follow @smmegamall or visit smsupermalls.com.
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