The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is working to extend two of its mass rail systems to alleviate Metro Manila’s traffic congestion.
LRTA administrator Hernando Cabrera said the agency is in the process of acquiring right-of-way for the LRT-2 West Extension Project.
Cabrera said the P2-billion fund for the LRT-2 West Extension Project would be for the property acquisitions. The entire project originally required a total of P10 billion.
“Our focus now, the latest instruction from the Department of Transportation is that while the funds are still insufficient… the available funds should be used to buy the right-of-way,” Cabrera said over DOTr’s Sakay Na! radio program on Radyo Pilipinas.
“Let’s make it a priority to buy, take care of the right-of-way, including the transfer of utilities such as electric wire, water pipes,” he said.
Cabrera said that once the properties were acquired, the implementation of the project would proceed seamlessly.
Once completed, LRT-2 line will be extended five kilometers further west to Port Area, Manila with three more stations, including those in Divisoria, Tutuban and Pier 4.
The feasibility study for the LRT-2 East Extension Project is also in its refining stages, according to Cabrera.
“The feasibility study is completed, actually. It’s just being refined,” he said.
Once this is done, Cabrera said it would be submitted to the DOTr and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.
The LRT-2 East Extension Project will reach Cogeo in Antipolo City with at least three more stations.
LRT Line 2 was built at a cost of P31 billion, funded by soft loan from Japan. It is 13.8-km. mass transit line that traverses the cities of Pasig, Marikina, Quezon City, San Juan and Manila along the major thoroughfares of Marcos Highway, Aurora Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Legarda and Recto Ave.
