Katipunan Avenue () is a major avenue in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It runs in a north–south direction from the University of the Philippines Diliman, intersecting with Tandang Sora Avenue at its northernmost point, down to the Manila Philippines Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, intersecting with White Plains Avenue at its southernmost point.
The road is a component of National Route 11 (N11) and National Route 129 (N129) of the Philippine highway network, respectively, and Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) of Manila's arterial road network.
The avenue has three lanes per direction in most sections, widening to four in select areas, and narrowing to two lanes within Barangays White Plains and Saint Ignatius.
An extension project, shelved by the government for the last six decades due to failed negotiations with private entities, has been revived by the Department of Public Works and Highways to address worsening traffic situations along Katipunan and Commonwealth Avenue, as well as Batasan–San Mateo Road. , the project is 70% complete.
Etymology
The avenue is named after the Katipunan revolution as the area now occupied by the road was originally carved as a passageway for Katipunan revolutionaries to make their way to Banlat, Balintawak, and Pugad Lawin during the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonial government in 1898.
Buildings
Along the avenue are several higher educational facilities, including the Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, and University of the Philippines Diliman. It is also the location of the Manila Water facilities within the Balara Filters Park. The area along Katipunan Avenue was originally intended as a low-density residential zone. Due to the populous universities along the avenue, numerous condominiums have been since been established in the area. In 2009, the SM Investments Group proposed to build a 31-story high-rise residential project called Stanford Residences on a site on Katipunan Avenue near the Santa Maria della Strada Parish Church, totalling over 1,316 residential and commercial units. To build this, SM would have to get an exemption from Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. SP 918 S-2000), restricting the height of buildings in residential areas such as that part of Katipunan Avenue to . Local residents opposed the exemption. SM already had another high-rise project in progress on the other side of Katipunan Avenue, called Berkeley Residences, which was already 40% done by September 2009. SM indicated that it would be willing to move the Stanford Residences project to another location.
Despite advisories warning against alcohol beverage distribution near schools located along Katipunan Avenue, bar establishments continue to be a popular aspect of the area's nightlife.
Transport
The avenue generally features heavy motorized vehicle traffic, and is divided in the middle by traffic islands for the convenience of pedestrians. In 2005, the MMDA listed the area of Katipunan Avenue near Ateneo de Manila University as one of Metro Manila's 14 most dangerous traffic black spots. In 2008, the MMDA introduced a traffic rerouting plan on the avenue, cutting off some u-turn slots along the avenue; local residents complained, but the MMDA responded that the road was used by many motorists and not just local residents, and that the measures had improved traffic flow. Later the MMDA stated they might re-open some of the u-turn slots. In 2010, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that it would deploy 2,000 traffic enforcers along the avenue to deal with the heavy vehicular traffic. The city government built a pedestrian overpass in 2006 near Ateneo de Manila University.
Motorized tricycles have long been officially banned from Katipunan Avenue, but the ban was not always evenly enforced, until an announcement in August 2008 by the MMDA. MMDA stated that they would enforce the ban from Aurora Boulevard northwards. In September 2008, Quezon City councilor Allan Butch Francisco proposed an exception to the ban. He stated that the Quezon City Tricycle Ordinance of 1992 permitted tricycles to travel along national highways if those highways were the only access roads in the area, and that Katipunan Avenue was the only road linking to the u-turn slot on C.P. Garcia Avenue. Katipunan tricycle drivers held a strike in mid-September in protest.
Katipunan Station is located on Aurora Boulevard near its intersection with Katipunan Avenue. It is the only underground station on Line 2 and the whole LRTA system.