Early opening of 6 LRT-2 stations eyed

The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) is eyeing the early opening of six more stations of LRT Line 2 this April which will enable commuters to travel from Santolan, Pasig City to the University Belt in Legarda, in downtown Manila.

"We are targeting an opening on the first week of April for six additional stations on Line 2 to ease traffic congestion along this traffic-prone corridor and substantially cut travel time and make commuting more comfortable," LRTA officer-in-charge Zosimo Mendoza Jr., said.

The opening of the entire LRT Line 2 system had originally been scheduled for October.

The six additional stations to be activated once the early opening of the Phase II stations pushes through this April are the Betty Go-Belmonte station in Cubao, Quezon City; Gilmore Avenue station in New Manila; J. Ruiz station in San Juan; V. Mapa and Pureza stations in Sta. Mesa, Manila; and Legarda station.

After the opening of the six additional stations this coming April, only the C.M. Recto terminal in Manila will remain under construction.

Four stations, covered under the LRT Line 2’s Phase I package, has been operational since last year. These are the Santolan, Katipunan Avenue, Anonas and Araneta Center-Cubao stations.

Mendoza said that with the opening of the six additional stations, the projected travel time from Santolan to Legarda is to take only 20 minutes, a huge benefit to the riding public particularly those living and commuting regularly from the Rizal province areas, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan into Manila. — Rainier Allan Ronda