LRT-MRT common station to rise between SM, Trinoma

MANILA, Philippines – The common station linking the upcoming Metro Rail Transit Line-7 to the Light Rail Transit Line 1 and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will be located between SM North EDSA and Trinoma malls in the vicinity of EDSA and North Avenue, according to an agreement signed yesterday between the government and major conglomerates.

Signing the agreement were Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy, Universal Light Rail Corp. BV Ltd. chairman and president Ramon Ang, Light Rail Manila Corp. vice chairman Manuel Pangilinan and North Triangle Depot Commercial Corp. represented by Ayala Land Inc. vice chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

Tugade said the completion of the common station is expected in two and a half years.

“We have come to an agreement, a groundbreaking, assuming the doables are done, the architectural and engineering designs are done and agreed upon, hopefully we can ground break before the end of this year,” he said.

The signatories vowed to work together to resolve all pending issues on the common station to link the three railways in Metro Manila.

LRT-1, currently operated and managed by LRMC comprised of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Ayala Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd., runs from Roosevelt station in Quezon City to Baclaran station in Parañaque, while MRT-3 spans North Avenue station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue station in Pasay City.

MRT-7 being built by San Miguel Corp. subsidiary ULC will cover North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

They will also work on a timetable for the design preparation, construction and commissioning of the common station.

After the signing of a more definitive agreement/s among the stakeholders, SMPHI, the DoTr and the Light Rail Transit Authority will forge a compromise agreement which

will determine the filing of a Joint Motion for Judgment to pave the way for the development of the common station for the three railways

and have the temporary restraining order of the Supreme Court in 2014 lifted.

SMPHI sought for and obtained a TRO from the SC to prevent the transportation department, then headed by Joseph Emilio Abaya, from transferring the common station near the Ayala Group’s Trinoma mall from SM North EDSA mall.

SM had entered into an agreement with LRTA in 2009 to put up a common station near SM North EDSA.

SM also secured naming rights to the common station following its payment of P200 million.

Abaya wanted to move the common station near the Trinoma mall, citing savings in construction cost and convenience to passengers.

The agreement stated LRTA would not be obliged to return the P200 million payment to SM.

“In exchange, therefore, DOTr and LRTA acknowledge SMPHI’s naming and

interconnectivity rights to the unified station, as provided in the SMPHI MOA dated Sept 28, 2009,” the term sheet read.

Sy said SM is open to working with the other stakeholders on how to resolve the naming rights.

“We agreed to support the whole thing. In terms of the naming, we have not reached that point,” he said. “We are open to see how we can resolve that. Eventually, as we work out the details, we will resolve that issue also.” 

Pangilinan said he is hopeful the common station would be realized as soon as possible.

Ayala said the group supports the move to resolve issues on the common station, a critical component and junction of the three railway systems to come together.