LRMC pushes for LRT-1 fare hike

THE operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) continued to push for a P5 fare hike, saying this would allow the company to proceed with the construction of the train line’s extension to Cavite.

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) Chief Executive Officer Juan F. Alfonso said in a statement on Thursday the higher fare will push banks to extend loans for the Cavite extension project “knowing LRMC can recover its investment.”

“A P5 increase in LRT-1 fare will assure the construction of its extension to Sucat, Las Piñas and Bacoor, allowing at least 300,000 of residents each day to get to and from home in just minutes from Baclaran without traffic,” it said.

In March, LRMC filed its application to hike LRT-1 fares by as much as P7. The current fare is P15, P20 and P30, depending on distance traveled.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan told reporters on Wednesday the application is still being processed, and the public consultation has been postponed.

No fare hikes in the LRT-1 has been implemented since LRMC took over its operations and maintenance in September 2015.

LRMC is the private concessionaire of the Department of Transportation for the LRT-1. Part of its agreement with the government is the 5% fare increase every two years and the extension of the LRT-1 from the Baclaran station to Bacoor, Cavite.

When completed, LRMC said the Cavite extension will cut travel time from Baclaran to Sucat to 15 minutes; to Las Piñas to 20 minutes; and to Bacoor to 30 minutes.

“We are investing P5 for every P1 revenue to ensure that LRT-1 is efficient, trouble-free, and also clean. Today, trains come every 3.5 minutes, down from 5 minutes when LRMC took over operations and maintenance in 2015,” Mr. Alfonso added.

LRMC is the consortium of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group. — Denise A. Valdez

LRT 1 fare hike to ensure ‘smooth’ sailing of railway-extension project–LRMC exec

A fare hike being charged to Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 commuters will ensure smooth sailing for the train facility’s expansion, as this will give lenders the confidence to bankroll the P30-billion price tag for the railway system’s extension, its operator said.

Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) President Juan F. Alfonso said his group is pushing for the fare adjustment—a component included in the concession agreement that the company signed with the government ­—to assure the construction of the railway station all the way to Bacoor.

The fare increase “will give banks the confidence to lend to the company the funds for the Cavite Extension, knowing LRMC can recover its investment,” he added.

Once built, the Cavite Extension will allow travel from Baclaran to Sucat to only 15 minutes; to Las Pinas, 20 minutes; and to Bacoor, 30 minutes.

“We can virtually guarantee these travel times because we are traffic- free. And we are investing P5 for every P1 revenue to ensure that LRT 1 is efficient, trouble free, and also clean. Today, trains come every 3.5 minutes, down from five minutes when LRMC took over operations and maintenance in 2015,” he said.

Alfonso noted that the P5 increase will result in P25 in average fares, or about the same price as bus rides, and much lower than taxis and transport network company fares “without traffic.”

“LRT 1 is the solution to the traffic problem caused by the high population density and urbanization of Metro Manila,” he said, citing a Japan International Cooperation Agency study that estimated that traffic cost is P3.5 billion a day in Metro Manila.

“If we do nothing, it will become P5.4 billion a day in 2034, but by accelerating infrastructure projects, it can be reduced to P3 billion a day. And with projects like the Cavite Extension, this can be further reduced to P2.4 billion a day,” he added.

Ridership at Southeast Asia’s oldest overhead railway system is seen to reach as much as 800,000 passengers per day in three years, owing to increased capacity and demand.

Daily ridership has reached 459,400 passengers as of March.

The first stage of the Cavite Extension involves the construction of the first five stations from Redemptorist to Dr. Santos.

These are included in the first package of right of way, which is expected to be delivered sometime this year.

Targeted for completion in about four years after the delivery of easement, the 11.7-kilometer Cavite extension will connect into the existing system immediately south of the Baclaran Station and run in a generally southerly direction to Niyog, Cavite.

It will consist of elevated guideways throughout the majority of the alignment, except for the guideway section at Zapote, which will be located at grade.

Eight new stations will be provided with three intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite. The new stations are Redemptorist, MIA, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niyog. The intermodal facilities, shall be located at Dr. Santos, Zapote and Niyog.

The new stations will be accessible to and from nearby community facilities, such as shops, schools, stadium and park, and will be located to suit passenger-flow routes from residential areas.

Pedestrian access to all new stations will be direct, safe and easy. Details, such as lighting to distinguish access points, pedestrian-cross striping and curb cuts for handicapped access, will be provided.

The company has invested P7.5 billion in the railway system so far since it took over in 2015.

LRT-1 operator eyes fare increase of P5

Light Rail Manila Corp., the private sector operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), is pushing for a P5 increase in fare to assure the construction of the extension stage to Bacoor in Cavite.

LRMC president Juan Alfonso said the fare increase would give banks the confidence to lend to the company the funds for the Cavite extension.

Alfonso said the P30-billion Cavite extension project would allow travel from Baclaran to Sucat in only 15 minutes; to Las Pinas, 20 minutes; and to Bacoor, 30 minutes.

“We can virtually guarantee these travel times because we are traffic-free. And we are investing P5 for every P1 revenue to ensure that LRT-1 is efficient, trouble-free, and also clean. Today, trains come every 3.5 minutes, down from 5 minutes when LRMC took over operations and maintenance in 2015,” he said.

The average fare is proposed to increase to P25, or just about the same as a bus fare, and much lower than taxi and transport network company fares, “without traffic,” Alfonso said.