DOTC sees eventual phase-out of buses, jeepneys in Metro Manila
Perseus Echeminada
Philippine Star
The start of the construction of the mass transit railway system that will link the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) along EDSA will lead to the eventual phase-out of buses and jeepneys in Metro Manila, a top official of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said yesterday.
“Buses and jeepneys will voluntarily leave Metro streets once we complete the rail system,” DOTC Undersecretary for railway services Guiling Mamondong said.
Mamondong explained the MRT project linking the North EDSA station in Quezon City to Monumento in Caloocan City would complete the loop that would force public utility vehicles, particularly buses, out of EDSA.
He said the loop railway system is expected to be complete in 12 months that would link Caloocan, Quezon City, Makati, Manila, and Pasay City into one whole mass transit system.
“Once the link up is complete, passengers will ignore buses and they will (instead) take the train which is cheaper and faster,” Mamondong said.
He said this early, many buses plying the EDSA route are often empty, even during rush hours due to intense competition and the fact more commuters are choosing to take the MRT to reach their destination faster.
Mamondong added the increasing prices of fuel would force other bus companies to look for alternate routes or cease their operations to avoid more losses.
Aside from the EDSA link, a new rail system would be constructed from North EDSA to Bulacan, passing through Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
The new train system, MRT 7, will have an underground facility from the central station in North EDSA passing the Quezon Memorial Circle and the length of Commonwealth Avenue.
Mamondong said MRT 7 would service commuters at Fairview in Quezon City up to the boundary of Bulacan.
Another mass transit rail system would be constructed from North EDSA traversing Quezon Avenue to link up with the LRT 1 Central station in Manila.
“Mass transit will not only address the problem of high fares it will also result in the decongestion of traffic and clean air because the trains will be running on electric power,” Mamondong pointed out.
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