QUEZON CITY, April 20 (PIA)—President Benigno Aquino III led on Wednesday (April 20) the groundbreaking ceremony of MRT 7 after its concessionaire, San Miguel Corporation-backed Universal LRT Corporation BVI Limited (ULC) fully complied with the financial closure requirements.
Aquino said the 22.8-kilometer rail system will run from North Avenue corner EDSA in Quezon City, and pass through Commonwealth Avenue, Regalado Avenue and Quirino Highway up to the proposed Intermodal Transportation Termina (ITT)l in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
He said that once completed, the project is expected to serve 5,550 passengers daily.
MRT -7 is expected to provide more efficient, safer, faster and pollution-free mode of mass transit for commuters.
Once built, it will deter provincial buses from entering Metro Manila and thus alleviate traffic along the routes presently being plied by these provincial buses.
According to SMC President and COO Ramon Ang, the rail component of the MRT-7 project involves the construction of the rail system that will operate 109 rail cars in a 3-car train configuration.
It also involves the construction of 14 train stations starting from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, to North Avenue, Quezon City.
It will also provide access to MRT-3 and LRT-1 via a common station in EDSA.
The project also covers the development of an integrated transportation system, which includes 22-km highway from the NLEX Bocaue interchange, and an in ITT.
Commuters can take public utility vehicles (PUVs) or private cars and use the new highway from NLEX, alight at the ITT, and board the MRT-7 going to North Ave. in Quezon City. (PIA-NCR/RJB/SDL)
20 April 2016
By Susan G. de Leon