TRAIN operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) is gearing up for the groundbreaking of the multibillion-peso extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Cavite, albeit a little late from the original target, as it waits for the gosignal from the office of President Duterte.
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. President Jose Ma. K. Lim said in an interview his group is ready to break ground for the roughly P30-billion facility, as the first package of the right-of-way has been delivered by the government.
“For Phase One, we have received five and a half kilometers [km] or six km of right-of-way. It is complete. We are just waiting for the President to tell us when it is fit to break ground for the extension,” he said.
Lim did not elaborate.
A source familiar with the matter said the groundbreaking is slated for April. The group was looking at scheduling the groundbreaking ceremony sometime in February or March.
Targeted for completion in about four years after the delivery of right-of-way, the 11.7-kilometer Cavite Extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran Station and run in a generally southerly direction to Niyog, Cavite.
It will consist of elevated guideways throughout the majority of the alignment, except for the guideway section at Zapote, which will be located at grade.
Eight new stations will be provided with three intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite. The new stations are Aseana, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niyog. The intermodal facilities shall be located at Dr. Santos, Zapote and Niyog.
The new stations will be accessible to and from nearby community facilities, such as shops, schools, stadium and parks and located to suit passenger-flow routes from residential areas.
Pedestrian access to all new stations will be direct, safe and easy. Details, such as lighting to distinguish access points, pedestrian-cross striping and curb cuts for handicapped access, will be provided.
LRMC is a joint venture led by Metro Pacific and Ayala Corp.
20 March 2017
By Lorenz S. Marasigan
