THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) hopes to complete the feasibility study for the northern Metro Manila integrated terminal exchange by the end of the year.
“The feasibility is now undergoing review. It is supposed to be for presentation to the department probably by the end of the year,” Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven C. Pastor told reporters on the sidelines of a transport forum.
Earlier this year, the DoTr said it is seeking out possible sites for the northern counterpart of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
So far, the government has not decided on a location, Mr. Pastor said, adding that the DoTr wants to ensure the viability of the plan before site selection.
“We have to rely on the study. We want it to be based on science and it should be technologically sound so we locate a particular area that will serve and cater to the commuters,” he said.
“It is under study now. I think our planning office will explore locations for the north for an ITX,” Mr. Pastor said.
The facility must be interoperable with the busway, he said, adding that the DoTr is also studying whether it can tap private operators.
Mr. Pastor declined to comment when asked whether the government’s plan to bid out the operations and maintenance of the EDSA Busway will proceed next year.
“What we can commit is that we want to construct or at least rehabilitate all the bus stops so that (all the stops) will be uniform,” he said.
The DoTr said in February that the EDSA Busway project is on hold pending studies on possible improvements and plans to upgrade the busway stations.
“The intention is for all the bus stops to have a uniform appearance and accessibility… If ever we go through with the privatization, the busway will already look good,” Mr. Pastor said.
The EDSA Busway Project initially involved the financing, design, construction, procurement of low-carbon buses and operations and maintenance of the busway, according to the Public-Private Partnership Center. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
