DOTr plans upgrades to MRT-3

Commuters can expect smoother and more efficient rides on the MRT-3 as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) rolls out improvements following an inspection by Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon on Monday.

Addressing passenger concerns, Dizon outlined plans to reduce long queues, enhance station facilities, and improve transfers between the MRT and other modes of transport.

Immediate improvements are also on the horizon. Dizon committed to installing better lighting in dimly lit areas and constructing covered walkways to connect MRT stations with other transport modes, including buses and jeepneys, to ease transfers for passengers.

As the build-lease-transfer (BLT) agreement between the government and Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) approaches its expiration this year, the DOTr is considering privatizing the operation and management of the MRT-3.

The government currently operates the line, while MRTC is responsible for its design, construction, and maintenance.

MRTC, a company owned by Metro Rail Transit Holdings II Inc. under businessman Robert John Sobrepeña, began construction of MRT-3 in 1996, completing it by 1999.

The rail system, which started full operations in 2020, was initially designed to carry over 23,000 passengers per hour, with the capacity to expand to 48,000 passengers per hour as demand grows.