LRT-1 Cavite Extension to open by year end

THE Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension, now 98.2 percent complete, could open before the year ends, said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

«With the operations of the project, many can connect to PITX (Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange), I think, that will help many passengers, as well as to the airport. With this, it will really improve accessibility and comfort to the riding public,» Bautista said on Friday.

LRT-1 runs through five stations: Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asia World Station, Ninoy Aquino Station and Dr. Santos Station.

Bautista said that Dr. Santos Station's intermodal connectivity links passengers to other modes of transportation, such as modern jeepneys, tricycles, UV Express and buses.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who accompanied Bautista during the inspection of the project, said the rail line would be beneficial to small enterprises around the area.

«The commuting time will be faster; we will be able to reduce the fuel we import, so that is a big deal for our government,» Recto said.

The 11.7-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project was expected to reduce travel time from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite, to 25 minutes and increase ridership from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.