By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is targeting the partial opening of the Unified Grand Central Station, also known as the Common Station, in the first quarter of 2028, after the Economy and Development Council’s (EDC) recent approval of a variation order for the project.
In a radio interview on Thursday, acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the DOTr will work to achieve at least interim operations of the Common Station by that timeline.
“Ang nangyari po kasi dito, we terminated the contract. And nung na-terminate po natin ‘yan, nakipag-usap tayo sa LRMC if they can continue the project by way of variation order,” Lopez said.
Since the deal was a variation order, he said it needed to go through proper government procedures that have since been concluded with the approval of the EDC.
“Masisimulan na natin ‘yan kasi habulin natin at least the partial operations po ng first quarter of 2028,” Sec. Lopez said.
He added the DOTr has also arranged a temporary solution to ease transfers for commuters while the full construction of the Common Station is underway.
“Ang gagawin po namin ngayon is to ensure na ‘pag natapos na po ‘yung North Avenue, MRT-7 (Metro Rail Transit Line 7), at functional na po ‘yan, magagamit ng ating mga commuters ‘yung concourse at platform,” he said.
He added that talks are ongoing with Trinoma mall management on giving an access way for those headed to the MRT-3.
“In that way, hindi sila maglalakad sa ilalim, sa kalsada,” he said.
Lopez assured that the full Common Station is targeted for completion in 2030, at which point commuter transfers will be significantly more convenient.
The Common Station aims to connect Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), MRT-3, MRT-7, and in the future, the Metro Manila Subway, into a single integrated hub located along North Avenue in Quezon City.
The DOTr has said the station will also feature an intermodal integrated transport system on the ground level, allowing passengers to depart by bus, jeepney, or taxi upon exiting the station.
