MMDA: LRT 2 works spell traffic woes for 2 ½ years

As the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair put it, “this is bloody.’’

Expect construction work for the Light Rail Transit Line 2 East Extension Project to aggravate traffic conditions particularly on Marcos Highway in the next two-and-a-half years.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino served notice to motorists and commuters about the coming bottlenecks after holding a traffic management meeting on Friday with the proponents of the P9.5-billion LRT 2 Masinag Extension Project.

The project officially began in June but Tolentino said its full impact on Marcos Highway and surrounding grids may be felt starting the third week of September.

Lanes going to Cubao will be heavily affected, while the proposed alternative routes will include Sumulong Highway, A. Rodriguez Avenue, J. Rizal Avenue, Felix Avenue and Fernando Avenue, Calle Industria, Kaginhawaan and Ortigas Avenue Extension.

“This is bloody,” Tolentino said. “There are many subdivisions, residential areas and schools [in the area]. It will be felt for two and a half years. All of us will have to adjust here.”

Under the project, contractor DM Consunji Inc. will construct a 4.2-kilometer elevated guideway that will extend the LRT 2 line from its current end-station in Santolan, Pasig City, to Masinag in Cainta, Rizal province.

Two additional stations will be built: Emerald station in Cainta and Masinag station at Masinag junction in Antipolo, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Beep cards on LRT 1

Meanwhile, the trial run for the tap-and-go payment system using the so-called Beep cards is set to start on the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) on Sunday, according to its private sector operator.

AF Payments Inc., a venture between Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., said the trial will cover the southbound direction of the LRT 1. Another test for the system was earlier conducted on LRT 2.

“We encourage commuters interested in trying out the new system to purchase their cards during the preselling period so they don’t have to line up to buy their cards on Aug. 16,” AF Payments chief executive officer Peter Maher said.

The company said it had already sold almost 15,000 preloaded Beep cards at seven LRT 1 stations (Roosevelt, Doroteo Jose, Central, Edsa, Gil Puyat, Monumento and Baclaran).

Preloaded cards will also be available starting Aug. 17 at Universidad de Manila, Philippine Normal University, Technical University of the Philippines, Masagana Building and Victory Mall.

The consortium is planing to roll out the system across LRT 1, LRT 2 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 by September. With a report from Miguel R. Camus