DOTC to bid out LRT-MRT common station in 1st half

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will auction off the contract for the construction of the common station linking the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) systems within the first half of the year.

The common station, which will be located near the Trinoma Mall in the North Avenue station of MRT 3, will cost P1.39 billion, according to a presentation by DOTC.

The agency is working on completing the bidding and awarding of the contract within the next 6 months so construction can commence by the 3rd quarter.

The station will be the common platform connecting LRT 1, MRT 3 and the proposed MRT 7. The project includes the construction of a turn-back system between the SM North EDSA and Trinoma malls that will allow trains to move and shift directions.

LRT 1 runs from Baclaran to Monumento, while MRT 3 passes through EDSA – from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

The proposed MRT 7 project will run from Caloocan City and pass through Lagro and Fairview, Novaliches, Batasan, Diliman, Philcoa, before ending at EDSA.

The common station will be bid out under the the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino administration. The PPP was launched in 2010 to create much-needed infrastructure to support and sustain the country’s economic growth.

The common station project was one of the PPPs approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) boardm, chaired by President Benigno Aquino III, in a meeting last November.

DOTC originally chose SM North EDSA as the location of the common station. The department, however, revised its plans and picked Trinoma instead. – Rappler.com