DOTr: Construction of LRT-MRT common station won’t hike fares 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday assured that the construction of the P2.8-billion common station for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) will have no impact on existing train fares.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Leah Quiambao said this during the hearing of the Senate public services committee on the common station project.

“Yung common station, wala itong epekto sa fares. There will be no concomitant increase in fares,” Quiambao said.

The proposed common station will be between SM North EDSA and Trinoma pending the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“As far as the legal is concerned and under the instruction of [DOTr] Secretary [Arthur] Tugade, we made sure that there will be no concomitant increase in fares of the lines,” Quimbao said.

The DOTr earlier said the common station will be constructed starting December 2017 and is targeted to be finished by April 2019.

The 13,700-square meter facility comprises three essential components:

• Area A consisting of the platforms and concourse for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) and Metro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3)
• Area B consisting of two concourses connecting Areas A and C including an Atrium for  shorter connectivity between Area A to Area C and a secondary walkway with a longer arm connecting Area A to Area C
• Area C consisting of the platform for MRT-7

The three areas are expected to accommodate at least 120,000 commuters per hour. —ALG, GMA News