The P3-billion Integrated Terminal Exchange in Parañaque City is now 75 percent complete and is expected to be finished by second quarter this year.
Once fully operational, the intermodal transport hub will interconnect Line 1 of the Light Railway Transit system, city and provincial buses, as well as UV express and public utility jeeps routes for the convenience of about 200,000 passengers daily.
“This ensures a safe, convenient, and hassle-free travel experience for the commuting public,” said Thomas Orbos, Inter-agency Council for Traffic chief and Transportation undersecretary for Roads and Infrastructure.
Orbos said the terminal exchange will further ease the flow of traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
The facility, located in four-hectare land along Coastal Road, will be the first modern intermodal public transport terminal to be built in the country.
The terminal is envisioned to be a modern transportation hub that will significantly improve the commuting and terminal experience of passengers.
It will be the first among several terminals that will be built around the peripheries of Metro Manila, Orbos said.
He added that the strategic location will maximize road usage and reduce the number of public utility vehicles plying busy road networks such as Edsa, particularly in the areas of Baclaran and Taft Avenue.
With the government’s Route Rationalization Plan that will be soon implemented, Orbos said the reorganization of routes will be a priority, and provincial PUVs will only be allowed to load and unload in ITX, avoiding Edsa altogether.
“At least 1,000 buses will be taken out of Edsa daily for the comfort and safety of our Cavite and Batangas brothers going to Metro Manila and greatly help decongest Metro Manila traffic,” Orbos said.
ITX was designed to resemble an airport terminal with multi-level platforms. It will have passenger terminal buildings, embarkation and disembarkation bays, staging bays, ticketing and baggage handling facilities, and park-ride facilities.
Catching a bus is also made easier with the On-line Bus Ticketing System, an intuitive online and on-site booking and ticketing system. Departure schedules will also be displayed on large screens.
Buses will likewise be equipped with Ultra-High Frequency tag for efficient managing, tracking, and monitoring inside the terminal premises. Vehicles and passengers queuing, loading, and unloading will all be systematized. The terminal will also be equipped with Wi-Fi and charging points.
