The Department of Transportation and Communications, in partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, has launched earlier today the Express Connect bus service.
The Express Connect bus service operates from 5am to 9pm and, reportedly boasts 40 air-conditioned buses running three specific routes from Fairview in Quezon City to as far as the SM Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City with designated stops in between. All 40 buses will start the day's run from the MMDA bus dispatch terminal along Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Express Connect buses running the first route will load and unload passengers only at the following stops: Fairview, COA, Ortigas, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Ayala Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard (southbound); and Roxas Boulevard, Ayala Avenue, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, SM Megamall, Batasan, and Fairview (northbound).
For the second route, Express Connect buses will stop at: Fairview, COA, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Ayala Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard (southbound); and Roxas Boulevard, Ayala Avenue, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Batasan and Fairview (northbound).
Finally, for the third route, the Express Connect buses will only stop at: Fairview, COA, Ayala MRT, and SM Mall of Asia (southbound); and SM Mall of Asia, Ayala Avenue, Batasan, and Fairview (northbound).
The DOTC added that all 40 buses offer free Wi-Fi service on-board and that passengers will be charged the exact same fare as on regular air-conditioned buses. Participating buses for the service can be identified by the Express Connect signs at the front of the bus, on the windshields, and on the doors.
Photo from Ramon Velasquez via Wikimedia Commons
