San Miguel Corp. and the Quezon City local government plan to integrate walking and cycling with public transport starting with the construction of the MRT-7’s elevated turnback guideway along West Ave.
The facility that SMC’s infrastructure arm will build near MRT-7’s North EDSA Station will ensure that train services across the project’s alignment are efficient and on-schedule.
A one-kilometer portion of West Ave., between Examiner Street and EDSA—where the elevated turnback guideway will be built—will be redesigned to create wider pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes at no cost to the local government.
This modal integration will help improve access to MRT-7 and support the local government’s broader effort to sustainable mobility and improved quality of life in the city.
“The construction of MRT-7’s turnback guideway at West Avenue presented an opportunity for us to help advance Mayor Joy Belmonte’s push for more and better active transport infrastructure in the city,” SMC president and chief executive Ramon Ang said.
“Once completed, the new configuration of the road will feature wider pedestrian walkways, and bike lanes that will benefit more people,” he said.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista the city government approved the construction of the guideway and the redevelopment of the area as part of its various pursuits in improving roadways in the city.
“The Quezon City government conveys its interest to undertake the implementation of the project using private funds from the MRT-7’s private partners. We note that it is in the best interest of the city given our numerous roadway improvement efforts,” Belmonte said.
Pre-construction work on the turnback guideway kicked off last week, as officials of the Department of Transportation and the city government led groundbreaking ceremonies with representatives of SMC Infrastructure, the infrastructure arm of SMC, Agafer Construction and Trading and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Once completed, the existing two-meter-wide sidewalk will be widened to 3.10 meters, a portion of which will be designated as a bike lane. The existing perpendicular parking along the road will be converted into parallel parking as well.
The project will also cover the relocation of utilities such as electrical lampposts, communication lines, drainage, water and sanitary ducts and other services.
Ang said the turnback guideway would allow MRT-7 trains to change directions as it terminates at the North Triangle Common Station at North Ave.