Your EDSA Commute Is Getting an Upgrade Through My SM
SM Supermalls' twin
transport link projects aim to cut down long walks and make the daily commute
along EDSA safer and more convenient
SM malls are evolving to support access to key
transportation points. (In photo: The SM Megamall EDSA Busway Concourse and
Pedestrian Bridge enhances pedestrian circulation and seamless access within
one of Metro Manila's busiest commercial and transport hubs.)
MANILA, Philippines — For
the millions of Filipinos who navigate EDSA every day, the commute is about to
get a little less painful. As SM keeps expanding beyond retail and shared
spaces, its malls are now taking on a more direct role in how commuters
actually get to and from major transit hubs.
Two Projects, One Goal: Shorter Walks
In the coming months, mallgoers
can expect two new connections: the SM Megamall EDSA Busway Concourse and
Pedestrian Bridge, and the SM North EDSA–MRT 7 Link. Both are built around the
same idea — cut down long walks to transport hubs and give commuters access
points that are well-lit, ventilated, and easy to navigate.
SM Megamall's New Busway Link
The SM Megamall EDSA Busway
link connects the mall directly to the Ortigas station of the EDSA Bus
Carousel, giving commuters a proper entrance and exit point where there wasn't
one before.
Before this walkway existed,
commuters had to squeeze through the congested MRT-3 footbridge just to reach
the Carousel. The new pedestrian bridge cuts that walk down considerably,
easing access and smoothing out commuter flow through one of the busiest transport
junctions in the metro.
The SM Megamall Busway Link features an elevated
enclosed pedestrian bridge and concourse spanning EDSA.
The walkway itself is fully
covered, so commuters aren't left exposed to the weather, and it's built with
ramps and an elevator to make sure it's actually usable for persons with
disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant commuters — not just accessible on
paper.
From the mall, the link also
opens up easier access to the bus carousel platform itself, which runs
northbound trips to Monumento and southbound trips to the Parañaque Integrated
Terminal Exchange.
SM North EDSA's Coming MRT-7 Link
Meanwhile, construction is
underway on the SM North EDSA–MRT 7 Link, which will connect commuters directly
to the Common Station — the hub linking MRT-3, LRT-1, the soon-to-open MRT-7,
and the surrounding establishments. Like the Megamall link, this walkway will
be fully covered, so pedestrians can move between hubs without having to brave
the elements along the way.
Built With Government Partners
Both walkways were developed in
coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public
Works and Highways, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority — part of
a broader push by SM Supermalls to build commuter-friendly facilities around
its malls.
Under the My SM Transportation initiative, SM is aiming at
something bigger than just improved access to transit — it's trying to make the
daily commute itself safer, more comfortable, and less of a hassle. By putting
everyday commuter needs at the center of these projects, SM wants getting from
point A to point B to feel like a much smaller part of the day than it
currently does.
Comments