A friend once related his aversion to riding either the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) or the Light Rail Transit (LRT). This friend is not rich by any stretch of the imagination. He prefers to spend hours stuck in traffic while riding in a bus, rather than have to line up at any MRT or LRT station. The aversion was such that he expected other people to take an extra trip, to practically fetch him if they wish to meet with him.
This friend is not unlike many other commuters, who no longer believe in the MRT/LRT system of transportation. The glitches that result in trains stopping, the long lines during rush hour, maybe even a fear of being pushed to the train tracks – the reasons for disliking the MRT/LRT are many and varied. One thing is certain, though, the MRT and LRT are here to stay despite unbelievers.
A common station for three railway lines will soon rise in the heart of the nation’s capital. The groundbreaking for the common station was led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The station will link LRT-1, a line going from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran, Pasay City, with MRT-3, from North Avenue, Quezon City to Taft Avenue, Pasay City, and MRT-7, stretching from North Avenue to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Even your friends who hate the sight of an MRT station will not be able to avoid seeing the common station – that is, if they like going to the malls that are Trinoma and SM North. Costing the government some PhP2.8 billion to build, the 13,700 square-meter railway-line connector will be built between the two popular malls.
You may be the kind of shopper who likes having your fish fillet at one of those malls, but hates having to look for vacant tables to eat at. When the time comes, maybe you will just order take-out and eat in your car. Just think of the increase in diners that the new infrastructure will bring – even though the project will take until April 2019 to complete.
Legal obstacles had to be hurdled before DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade could announce the start of the project. As early as 2009, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) were co-parties to an agreement for the project to start somewhere near SM North. The DOTr, however, tried to change the location to a site across Trinoma in May 2013. A Temporary Restraining Order was then sought by the SMPHI from the Supreme Court, which granted it in August 2014.
That same Supreme Court Order has now been addressed with a joint manifestation advising the Court of a Memorandum of Agreement among concerned parties. These parties, referred to by Tugade, as “people that matter,” include himself, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Reynaldo Berroya, and representatives from SMPHI, LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corporation, and San Miguel Corporation.
The common station will be named by the mall owners, the government will finance and build it, while operation and maintenance will be handled by Light Rail Manila Corp., and the DOTr. The effects of the project will be felt by commuters and shoppers alike.
This friend is not unlike many other commuters, who no longer believe in the MRT/LRT system of transportation. The glitches that result in trains stopping, the long lines during rush hour, maybe even a fear of being pushed to the train tracks – the reasons for disliking the MRT/LRT are many and varied. One thing is certain, though, the MRT and LRT are here to stay despite unbelievers.
A common station for three railway lines will soon rise in the heart of the nation’s capital. The groundbreaking for the common station was led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The station will link LRT-1, a line going from Roosevelt in Quezon City to Baclaran, Pasay City, with MRT-3, from North Avenue, Quezon City to Taft Avenue, Pasay City, and MRT-7, stretching from North Avenue to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Even your friends who hate the sight of an MRT station will not be able to avoid seeing the common station – that is, if they like going to the malls that are Trinoma and SM North. Costing the government some PhP2.8 billion to build, the 13,700 square-meter railway-line connector will be built between the two popular malls.
You may be the kind of shopper who likes having your fish fillet at one of those malls, but hates having to look for vacant tables to eat at. When the time comes, maybe you will just order take-out and eat in your car. Just think of the increase in diners that the new infrastructure will bring – even though the project will take until April 2019 to complete.
Legal obstacles had to be hurdled before DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade could announce the start of the project. As early as 2009, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) were co-parties to an agreement for the project to start somewhere near SM North. The DOTr, however, tried to change the location to a site across Trinoma in May 2013. A Temporary Restraining Order was then sought by the SMPHI from the Supreme Court, which granted it in August 2014.
That same Supreme Court Order has now been addressed with a joint manifestation advising the Court of a Memorandum of Agreement among concerned parties. These parties, referred to by Tugade, as “people that matter,” include himself, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) administrator Reynaldo Berroya, and representatives from SMPHI, LRT-1 operator Light Rail Manila Corporation, and San Miguel Corporation.
The common station will be named by the mall owners, the government will finance and build it, while operation and maintenance will be handled by Light Rail Manila Corp., and the DOTr. The effects of the project will be felt by commuters and shoppers alike.
No comments:
Post a Comment