The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to open additional ticket booths and entry gates at the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) station to reduce passenger queues and ease morning rush-hour congestion.
In an interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the new facilities, along with a northbound entrance, are expected to open by the first week of December as part of efforts to improve passenger flow at the station, which serves around 27,000 passengers daily.
“Grabe yung pagpapasok ng LRT, napakahaba. Kaya tingin ko itong gagawin po natin bago mag-Pasko, base na rin sa direktiba ng Pangulo na lahat ng kayang gawin natin para maibsan yung araw-araw na commute ng mga kababayan natin, eh kailangan gawin natin,” Dizon said.
“Mukha pong yung dalawang gagawin natin bago mag-Pasko 'yung [pag]bubukas nung entrance na northbound at pag-gagawing safe ‘yung pagpagpasok dun sa isang entrance na hindi masyadong nagagamit yung apat na e-gates tapos yung tatlong ticket booths," he added.
He said the DOTr expects to open the additional facilities within three weeks, with the northbound entrance already opened.
The improvements include four additional electronic gates and three ticket booths, which Dizon said would significantly reduce the length of queues and passengers’ waiting time.
“Siguro bigyan niyo lang kaming mga tatlong linggo, mabubuksan na. Pero yung north entrance, binuksan na namin. Tingin ko yan, kahit kalahati nung volume, mababawas,” he said.
Dizon also emphasized the need to assess transport problems on the ground rather than relying solely on reports from offices.
“Minsan kasi hindi mo makikita yung problema at saka solusyon kung nasa aircon ka sa opisina. Kailangan talagang nandoon ka sa baba,” Dizon stressed.
Meanwhile, Dizon acknowledged concerns over the allocation of space for passengers at PITX, following observations that commercial stalls appeared to occupy more space than passenger areas.
He said the concern should be addressed, stressing that passenger convenience must remain the priority.
“Naiintindihan ko naman po yung hirap ng buhay, pero hindi ito dapat at the expense nung... ang priority natin lagi, pasahero,” Dizon said.
