MRT-LRT common station to be finished by 2019
Posted on January 19, 2017
http://www.bworldonline.com/
THE COMMON STATION that will link Metro Manila’s three urban rail systems is expected to be completed by 2019, after the government and some of the country’s biggest companies finally signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the project that spent nearly eight years in limbo.
The agreement was signed by Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Director Hans T. Sy, Ayala Corp. Chief Executive Officer Jaime Zobel de Ayala, and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President and CEO Ramon S. Ang.
Under the agreement, the common station will be located in the middle of the original 2009 site in front of SM Annex and the 2014 location near Ayala’s TriNoma mall in Quezon City.
Construction of the 13,700 square meter common station project, which will connect the LRT Line 1 (LRT-1), Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and the planned MRT-7 from North Avenue, Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is expected to start by December this year.
The government will shell out P2.8 billion for the construction of the common station’s Area A — where the platform and entrance for LRT-1 and MRT-3 will be located.
DoTr said the original cost for the 2009 location was P2.6 billion at 7,200 sq.m., while the 2014 location cost was pegged at P1.4 billion at approximately 2,500 sq.m.
“The P2.8 billion, will be financed and built by the DoTr. The operation, maintenance, and development will be split between Light Rail Manila Corp. for LRT-1 and DoTr for MRT-3,” it added.
The DoTr said Area B, where the two entrances connecting Areas A and C are located — including the atrium and secondary walkway that can accommodate 40,000 passengers per hour — will be financed, built and operated by North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. (NTDCC), an affiliate of Ayala Land, Inc.
Area C, where the platform for MRT-7 is located, will be financed, built and operated by SMC. The area is designed to accommodate an estimated 80,000 passengers per hour.
“SM and TriNoma will have naming rights for the common station — the names SM City North EDSA and TriNoma — will be part of the name which will be discussed and finalized soon after signing,” DoTr said.
The concept design of the common station project will be presented to the constituents, representatives and local officials before the final design to incorporate concerns from various sectors.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will build and finance an underpass along EDSA at the area where the common station will be constructed.
The impasse over the common station location ended in September, after the DoTr’s meeting with Messrs. Pangilinan, Sy, Zobel, Ang and SM Investments Corp. Vice-Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson.
During Wednesday’s signing, the business tycoons committed to work with the government to pursue the project.
“From our perspective, the signing of this memorandum is actually a very important event on three levels — number one, it signifies public-private sector cooperation on this project. Number two is, bringing ease and a lot of comfort to the commuting public and number three, of course the very significant investment being made on this project,” MPIC’s Mr. Pangilinan said.
Mr. Zobel described the signing of the MoA after several years as “a perfect example of leadership from the government that will bring us all in the private sector to build facility for common good.”
“It’s always been an important imperative in our country to bring public and private sector together to address some of the oppressing problems we have… We’re deeply appreciative of the two secretaries and consortium members. In the end, more than anything, we are delighted to be part of extensive plan to make traveling public’s life much easier,” he added.
Mr. Sy said it “will continue to work hand-in-hand with the government and with all the parties concerned to ensure this common station will be a reality before the administration ends.”
However, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Terry L. Ridon described the MoA as a “compromise agreement,” adding that “public convenience, not the least cost, should be the main consideration for the MRT-LRT common station.”
In a statement, Mr. Ridon echoed concerns by commuter rights’ advocates over the cost of the common station, which went up 260% to P2.8 billion from the original P778 million, saying this as a “double whammy.”
“It would be doubly concerning for the public if government pays more for this new common station proposal without even reverting to the original concept of all three rail lines within one station,” he added.
To recall, in 2009, the Light Rail Transit Authority and SM Prime entered into an agreement for the common station to be located at a junction near SM City North EDSA. In 2013, the DoTr — then the Department of Transportation and Communications — decided to transfer the common station to a site across the TriNoma mall, saying this will reduce construction costs. This prompted SM Prime to sue the government for breach of contract.
In July 2014, SM Prime secured a Supreme Court (SC) stay order stopping the transfer of the common station’s site to TriNoma. The high court in May 2016 refused the government’s plea to lift the halt order.
The DoTr said yesterday that SM Prime, DoTr, and the Light Rail Transit Authority will file a joint manifestation with the SC advising the Court of the MoA to address the issue of the TRO vis-a-vis the common station project.
“This will allow parties to proceed with the construction of the project. After the detailed designs are completed by fourth quarter of 2017, an appeal for a dismissal of the case will be filed by all parties, paving the way for the final legal resolution on the Common Station,” it added.
