Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Monday, June 28, 2021
NLEX to spend ₱2B for new Quezon City extension project
By Lisbet Esmael, CNN Philippines
NLEX Corporation is allotting ₱2 billion to build a new two-kilometer expressway section between Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway in Novaliches, an official said over the weekend.
"The construction of this new ₱2-billion expressway section will be welcome news for NLEX commuters who currently face daily traffic gridlock in the congested portions of Mindanao Avenue," NLEX Corp. president Luigi L. Bautista was quoted as saying in a statement.
Construction is eyed to begin within the second half of 2021, the firm noted.
"Eventually, this section will be integrated into the future NLEX expansion to C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. We foresee an interconnected tollway network that will be accessible to the west, east, north, and south sides of Metro Manila," Bautista added.
The top executive also said the infrastructure project could create more jobs, propping up the pandemic-battered economy, especially since Metro Manila contributes 32 percent of the Philippine economy.
Once operational, the logistics sector could also benefit from the project as container cargo trucks, haulers and other commercial vehicles can ply this as an alternate route to the ports of Manila via NLEX Harbor Link all the way to the new Navotas Interchange along Mel Lopez Boulevard, R-10.
The new project is part of the 11.5-kilometer NLEX C5 Link between Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Regalado Avenue, Congressional Avenue, and C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City.
Aside from NLEX, the firm also operates the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
NLEX Mindanao Avenue-Quirino Highway section construction to start in 2021
The P2-billion expressway section is part of the NLEX-C5 Link project
The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will be extended by two kilometers, from Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City.
NLEX Corporation plans to start construction of the P2-billion expressway section in the second half of 2021.
The section is part of the 11.5-kilometer NLEX-C5 Link project spanning Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Regalado Avenue, Congressional Avenue, and CP Garcia Avenue in Quezon City.
The target completion date has yet to be announced.
NLEX Corporation president J. Luigi Bautista said in a statement on Sunday, June 27, that the section would be "welcome news for NLEX commuters who currently face daily traffic gridlock in the congested portions of Mindanao Avenue."
"Eventually, this section will be integrated into the future NLEX expansion to C5/CP Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. We foresee an interconnected tollway network that will be accessible to the west, east, north, and south sides of Metro Manila," Bautista added.
NLEX Corporation also said the project would benefit cargo trucks and other commercial vehicles as it would provide "an alternate route to the ports of Manila via NLEX Harbor Link all the way to the new Navotas Interchange along Mel Lopez Boulevard."
The NLEX-C5 Link project as a whole is seen to cut travel time between Mindanao Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue from 45 minutes to 10 minutes.
NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, which in turn is a subsidiary of Manny Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.
NLEX eyes construction of 2-km extension to Quezon City by second half of the year
THE North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation is set to jumpstart the construction of a new two-kilometer expressway section between the existing Mindanao Avenue toll plaza and Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City within the second half of the year.
“The construction of this new P2-billion expressway section will be welcome news for NLEX commuters who currently face daily traffic gridlock in the congested portions of Mindanao Avenue. Eventually, this section will be integrated into the future NLEX expansion to C5/CP Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. We foresee an interconnected tollway network that will be accessible to the west, east, north, and south sides of Metro Manila,” said NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.
“The construction of the new section is part of the DPWH Build! Build! Build! Program and is expected to contribute to the government’s economic stimulus initiative aimed at generating more jobs and helping revive the economy amidst the pandemic,” he said.
The project will also be welcome news for the transport logistics sector comprised of container cargo trucks, haulers and other commercial vehicles as it provides an alternate route to the ports of Manila via NLEX Harbor Link to the new Navotas Interchange along Mel Lopez Blvd, R-10.
This new project is part of the 11.5-kilometer NLEX C5 Link between Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Regalado Avenue, Congressional Avenue and CP Garcia Avenue in Quezon City.
The entire NLEX C5 Link project is expected to benefit 45,000 motorists daily and cut travel time between Mindanao Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue to 10 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes.
Aside from this project, the tollway company is fast-tracking the completion of the first 5-km. section of the NLEX Connector to España Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila along the PNR railroad tracks. The NLEX Connector is expected to reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon Expressway from two hours to just 20 minutes and is seen to support business activities in fast-growing regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
NLEX plans to start P2-B QC extension project this year
NLEX CORP. announced Sunday its plan to start the construction of a two-kilometer expressway connecting its Mindanao Avenue toll plaza to Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City by the second half of the year.
“The construction of this new P2-billion expressway section will be welcome news for NLEX commuters who currently face daily traffic gridlock in the congested portions of Mindanao Avenue,” NLEX Corp. President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said in a statement.
“Eventually, this section will be integrated into the future NLEX expansion to C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. We foresee an interconnected tollway network that will be accessible to the west, east, north, and south sides of Metro Manila,” he added.
The new project is part of the government’s Build, Build, Build program. It is also part of the 11.5-kilometer NLEX C5 Link between Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Regalado Avenue, Congressional Avenue and C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City.
“It is expected to contribute to the government’s economic stimulus initiative aimed at generating more jobs and helping revive the economy amidst the pandemic,” Mr. Bautista said.
The extension project will provide an alternate route to the ports of Manila via NLEX Harbor Link all the way to the new Navotas Interchange along Mel Lopez Boulevard, or R-10.
NLEX Corp. said the entire NLEX C5 Link is expected to be used by 45,000 motorists daily and reduce travel time between Mindanao Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue to 10 minutes from the usual 45 minutes.
NLEX Corp. is a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., itself the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.
https://www.bworldonline.com/nlex-plans-to-start-p2-b-qc-extension-project-this-year/
Sunday, June 27, 2021
PNR North-South Commuter Railway (PNR Clark)
Schedule for CP04 (N1 E&M) is not correct since it has not yet even entered procurement stage.
Malolos-CIA / Solis-Malolos projected operation - December 2024
Solis-Tutuban (November 2025?)
Solis-Blumentritt - August 2026
Blumentritt-Senate/DeptEd - January 2027
Alabang-Calamba - May 2027
Senate/DeptEd-Alabang - May 2028
Complete System - May 2028
Even though Solis-Blumentritt is just 1.1km, that section is still projected to take 4+ years probably due to project complexities (building over LRT station, relocation of Antipolo Street, etc.). Too bad since Blumentritt will be transfer station between NSCR and LRT-1.
The package with the MMSP interoperability is projected to take the longest to complete.
Of course all these dates are subject to change --- allow additional 1 to 2 years to each projected date to accommodate usual delays. Hopefully the entire system is completed by 2030.
Friday, June 25, 2021
DOTR set to auction operations of two railway projects
The Department of Transportation said Thursday it plans to launch a bidding for the operations and maintenance contracts of two major railway projects in the fourth quarter this year.
“We are currently developing two operations and maintenance concessions together with Asian Development Bank and Public Private Partnership— one with Metro Manila Subway Project and the second is for North South Commuter Railway System,” DOTR Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in a virtual briefing sponsored by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines.
Batan the agency was expecting an approval from the National Economic and Development Authority to bid out the O&M for the two projects by the third quarter of 2021.
He said the launching of the O&M bidding for Metro Manila Subway and NSCR will be in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Batan said the East Valenzuela station, PRI Building and depot of the Metro Manila Subway were expected to be completed by 2022. “We are getting a private operator [for Metro Manila Subway],” he said.
Dubbed as the “Project of the Century,” the P355-billion underground rail line is expected to serve 370,000 passengers daily in its first year of full operations.
Once completed and fully operational, the Metro Manila Subway Project will have 15 stations, including a terminal station at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
The whole Metro Manila Subway is seen to be completed by 2024 or 2025.
The 147-km North-South Commuter Railway System, which will run from Clark in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna, is expected to be completed by 2024.
The PNR Clark Phase 1 segment of NSCR, or the Tutuban-Malolos line, was scheduled to be partially operational by December 2021. It will be followed by the PNR Clark Phase 2 project, a 53-km northern segment.
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Next administration must keep up railway development
LAST week, Vivencio "Vince" Dizon, the presidential adviser on flagships projects and chief of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), provided a summary of the Duterte administration's accomplishments in infrastructure development. Among the 119 "flagship projects" under the administration's multiyear Build, Build, Build program are a number of rail transport developments.
Most of these have already been initiated, but a few will be left to the next administration to undertake. It has typically been the practice of new administrations to review and modify plans left behind by their predecessors, and while there is some continuity, there is never a guarantee that any of the priorities of an outgoing administration will be taken up by its replacement. While the next administration, regardless of whether it is supportive of or opposed to President Duterte's policies and outlook, will certainly want to pursue its own priorities and build its own legacy, we believe it should maintain and if possible, increase the momentum toward development of rail infrastructure.
Major rail projects currently under way include the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT 7) connecting North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) extension from Pasay to Bacoor, Cavite; the Metro Manila Subway project, which will eventually connect Valenzuela to Parañaque; the North-South Commuter Railway System, which will stretch from Clark in Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna; the Mindanao Railway Project, which will connect Tagum, Davao del Norte, Davao City and Digos, Davao del Sur; and the MRT-LRT Common Station at North Avenue, Quezon City, which will connect the LRT 1, MRT 3 and MRT 7 lines.
These projects are all in some stage of construction; some have only recently had preliminary work begun, while others are well advanced. In addition to these, the LRT 2 extension to Masinag, Antipolo has just been completed and the rehabilitation of the MRT 3 line, a job so big it should be counted as a major infrastructure project in its own right, is also nearing completion.
Completion of the work that has already begun on these is probably assured, but there are numerous other planned projects that may not be continued. These include additional phases of the Metro Manila Subway; connecting lines to the North-South Commuter Railway; additional phases of the Mindanao Railway to extend it beyond the Davao region; and the Philippine National Railway South Long Haul Project, which would connect Metro Manila to the Bicol Region.
Superior advantages
Even though railway development requires much higher development costs, they offer superior advantages to other forms of transport infrastructure that the Philippines cannot afford to overlook. They are the safest form of mass transportation and the most efficient in terms of passenger movement. They are also significantly more environmentally friendly than any other form of transportation. Fully electric trains have no direct emissions at all, and diesel-powered trains have emissions that are a fraction of those produced by road vehicles, ships or airplanes moving the same volume of passengers or goods.
There is also a historical context for rail infrastructure development. In virtually every country that has made the effort, expanding rail infrastructure, even in the modern era where it has competed with road and air transport, has positively correlated with economic growth. We can see this in examples such as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea in the post-World War 2 era, and most spectacularly in China since the 1990s.
Even if the next administration does not wish to give infrastructure so high a profile as the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build program, maintaining the momentum in railway development will create a responsible legacy of facilitating the country's progress far into the future. This should be a key campaign issue in the upcoming national election and of critical interest to Filipino voters, many of whom would directly benefit from it.