Four conglomerates agreed to end a seven-year deadlock over the location of the common station that will link Metro Manila’s overhead train system in Quezon City.
SM Group’s Tessie Sy-Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s Manuel Pangilinan reached an agreement in a meeting on Sept. 8 for a unified Light Rail Transit station to make commuting more convenient to the public.
The four parties also identified a single location of the common station to be built between SM North Edsa and Trinoma shopping mall, which would connect the three urban transit lines: LRT Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line-3, and the proposed MRT-7, which would run from North Ave. in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan.
The location of the common station is important to SM and Ayala because of the additional foot traffic that it can bring to their respective malls.
The station will provide a common concourse or atrium where train commuters can conveniently transfer from one line to another.
The Transportation Department, Public Works Department, Light Rail Transit Authority, SM Prime Holdings Inc., Universal LRT Corp., Light Rail Manila Consortium, North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. represented by Ayala Land Inc. will finalize the agreement on Sept. 28.
The Public Works Department also assured that the underpass to be built in the area would seamlessly integrate with the common station.
The parties are set to file a joint motion to the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order.
