The two new stations of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 will finally open to the public on Monday, July 5, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Thursday.
DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said all the necessary works for the extended railway line, which now adds Marikina-Pasig Station and Antipolo Stations, has been completed.
The department said that, once operational, the LRT-2’s average daily passenger capacity will increase from 240,000 passengers to 320,000 passengers.
“Once operational, the LRT-2 East Extension Project will reduce travel time from Claro M. Recto in Manila to Masinag in Antipolo from 3 hours via bus or jeepney, to just 30 to 40 minutes,” Tugade said.
“Further, the completion of the LRT-2 East Extension Project is expected to help reduce traffic congestion along Marcos Highway, especially in Marikina, Pasig and Antipolo given that road transport passengers will be redirected to riding the train,” Tugade said.
The LRT-2 extension project started in 2017 and involved generated jobs for at least 1,800 workers, Tigade said.
“The DOTr also projects that 170 rail personnel will be employed to work in the two new stations,” the secretary said.
In total, the construction of the two new stations, including their electromechanical system requirements, amounted to P4.5 billion.
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