The EDSA Carousel is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system part of several bus routes in Metro Manila. It is situated along EDSA and other roads, running on a dedicated right-of-way called the EDSA Busway, separated from normal road traffic in most of its stretch by concrete barriers and steel bollards on the innermost lane. Interim operations began on June 1, 2020, serving as a replacement of the former bus routes along EDSA, acting as an augmentation service to the MRT Line 3 due to the limited capacity restrictions put in place by the general community quarantine in Metro Manila as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Full operations began later on July 1, 2020. Intended to be largely served by bus stops along the median, some stops are temporarily served by bus stops on the curbside. The line is operated by the Mega Manila Consortium Corporation and ES Transport and Partners Consortium under the supervision of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). History Background Epifanio de los Santos Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila. Traffic congestion has always been a concern in the area and since 2007, the MMDA ordered buses to stay on the two right-most lanes of the road. Plastic barriers were later added in 2016. A proposal for a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, using funds from the World Bank was approved in 2017. EDSA was intended to be the second phase of the implementation of the bus rapid transit system, following Quezon Avenue. Line 2, known as the Central Corridor, will be eventually realized as the EDSA Carousel. Development On March 16, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) imposed a community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted almost all public and private transportation using EDSA. This paved the way for the immediate construction of the EDSA Busway. Traffic in the EDSA Busway is restricted to authorized buses as well as emergency vehicles such as ambulances. The EDSA Carousel line is distinct from the World Bank-funded BRT project. Opening On July 1, 2020, the EDSA Carousel line, also designated as Route E, started its interim operations with a total of fifteen stops in a dedicated bus lane completed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Proposed privatization and resumption of free rides Due to the increasing amount of