Manila North Tollways Corp. said on Friday it is exploring the possibility of integrating the operations of North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway wtth Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, which is operated by San Miguel Corp.
“That would be the natural next step, to try to talk their concessionaire and their operator to see if an integration is possible. That might be something we could eventually explore with their concessionaire and operator,” MNTC and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.
Franco said the Toll Regulatory Board encouraged MNTC and San Miguel to integrate NLEx, SCTEx and TPLEx.
“But of course integration is not a simple matter. It’s a very complicated process that’s why it has to be studied very carefully,” he added.
The P650 NLEx-SCTEx integration project was completed ahead of the expected 10 percent to 15 percent increase in traffic volume on Holy Week.
“Seamless and faster travel can now be experienced at NLEx and SCTEx as toll collection stops are lessened and additional payment options are introduced at the SCTEx,” Franco said.
The project, which involves the conversion of NLEx and SCTEx toll collection systems into a single one, reduces toll collection stops to two, instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back, and four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back.
“The integration speeds up the queues on toll plazas. Motorists who will drive from Manila to Subic will just have to stop for toll payments at Balintawak and Subic or Tarlac. This will save them up to 40 minutes of travel time,” Franco said.
Senate President Franklin Drilon, who pushed the integration of the two toll systems, said the move “will surely create a faster and more efficient traveling experience in the NLEx and SCTEx, especially this coming Holy Week.”
“This integration of our tollways will be of huge help to our countrymen as more efficient movement of people means less time on the road and more time for them to spend with their loved ones,” Drilon said.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said the integration was a game-changer that would greatly benefit the motorist in terms of faster travel time and convenience.
“It’s the first integration among expressways in the country and we are happy to be part of it and set the bar for others to replicate for the benefit of the public,” Casanova said.
To unify the system of NLEx and SCTEx, MNTC constructed seven new toll plazas. These include gates in Tarlac, Subic-Tipo, Sta. Ines and the northbound and southbound sides of Dau and Mabiga.
Motorists will no longer need to stop at the existing NLEx Dau and SCTEx Mabalacat barriers as these are converted into pass-through lanes. By April, the barriers will be removed to provide motorists with a more comfortable travel. The Subic Freeport Expressway Toll Plaza will also be dismantled to better facilitate the integration of the two expressways.