The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday phase 1 of the Light Rail Transit-1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension project, covering the line from Baclaran to Sucat, may open as early as this month.
“We will open this line within the next maybe two to three weeks, this is within November,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said.
Developed through a public-private partnership agreement, the first phase will connect Baclaran Station in Pasay City to Dr. Santos Station in Parañaque City. It is expected to reduce travel time by 30 minutes.
“We hope that this opening of the extension of Line 1 will help alleviate traffic as it will be able to support thousands of passengers, additional passengers taking LRT Line 1. And this will be our early Christmas gift to the residents of the area,” Bautista said.
Once phase 1 is operational, the extended LTR-1 is projected to add about 80,000 passengers daily in the first year of operations. Average ridership of LT-1 now is at 323,000 daily.
“We are excited to share that LRT-1 Cavite Extension Phase 1 is all set to open this month. This project is expected to bring significant benefits to commuters, including reduced travel time, improved air quality, and economic growth in the region,” said LRMC president and chief executive Enrico Benipayo.
“We look forward to celebrating this milestone as a testament to the unwavering commitment of LRMC and our partners to provide a world-class transportation solution to the Filipino people,” he said.
LRMC has been working closely with the DOTr, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and local government units and other partner government agencies for the completion of the project.
Ongoing activities for phase 1 include system integration works, commissioning of train sets and operational readiness tests to ensure a safe and seamless integration of the existing LRT-1 system with the extended line.
Automated entrance gates, ticket vending machines and teller booths were installed and tested.
The five new stations under phase 1 are Redemptorist-Aseana Station, MIA Road Station, PITX Station, Ninoy Aquino Avenue Station and Dr. Santos (formerly Sucat) Station.
The remaining stations between Las Piñas and Niog are scheduled to become fully-operational by 2027. Once completed, the 11.7-kilometer, 8-station LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project, will connect Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite.
