Bigger things in store for Metro rail commuters

Following the installation of the first escalator at the Ayala station, Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez said bigger and brighter things are in store for commuters of Metro Manila’s railway system.

Alvarez said the department, the operators of the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) have lined up several packages of improvements in the Metro Manila commuter railway system as follows:

l Opening of three more escalators of the MRT 3 at the Quezon Avenue and GMA Kamuning stations, both in Quezon City.

l Opening of eight additional escalators along EDSA route at the North Avenue, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Boni Avenue, Guadalupe, Buendia Avenue, Magallanes and Taft Avenue stations.

l Fielding of fully air-conditioned train coaches at the LRT along Taft Avenue route within two years.

l Extension of MRT 3 line from North Avenue in Quezon City to Monumento in Caloocan City by 2004, that will interconnect with LRT Line 1 creating a loop around EDSA and Taft.

l Ongoing construction of the LRT extension from Recto Avenue to Antipolo City, running through Legarda, Magsaysay Avenue, Aurora Boulevard and Marcos Highway.

l The planned commuter rail extension to Cavite City and Fairview, Quezon City.

Alvarez said the installation of escalators is part of the program of the DOTC and the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), the builder of the MRT, to bring added convenience and comfort to the commuters.

At the same time, Robert John Sobrepeña, MRTC chairman said the escalators would be installed at the stations along the planned extension from North Avenue and Monumento.

Alvarez said this will result in less traffic and pollution. “In due time, we will catch up with the developed world in terms of comfortable and affordable mass transit system.” (PNA)