After several commuters called out the operator on social media.
In recent days, images of the rush hour situation at the Parañaque Integrated Transport Exchange (PITX) station of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) circulated on social media platforms.
Long lines of passengers even before entering the station were seen in the photos, with many others also waiting on the platform itself to board the train.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 9, LRT-1’s private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) said that it is “actively reinforcing” its commitment to improving the passenger experience across the rail line through targeted initiatives designed to optimize crowd flow and boost overall accessibility at the said station.
“Working hand in hand with its government grantors, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr), LRMC is executing comprehensive operational enhancements aimed at delivering a smoother, more seamless experience for the commuting public,” the company also said.
They then listed out the actions they are taking to address the matter, such as adding new ticket counters to complement its existing booths, relocating ticket-vending machines (TVMs) across the station to better serve high-density crowds, and reconfiguring and relocating turnstile gates to actively resolve passenger queuing.
“LRMC and its grantors are targeting full implementation of these station enhancements within the fourth quarter this year,” the company added.
Furthermore, LRMC said it is driving ongoing coordination and talks with the PITX management to establish stronger operational synergies and “improve overall multimodal transit integration for passengers transferring between bus and rail lines.”
For now, as these works are underway, LRMC are setting up satellite ticket booths at LRT-1 PITX station to assist passengers and relieve queues during high-volume periods.
They added,”To maintain better station access, LRMC continues to operate a dedicated express lane for SVC users with sufficient load balance, while keeping regular lanes open for commuters purchasing SJTs and reloading their SVCs.”
For his part, LRMC President and CEO Enrico R. Benipayo said: “Our commitment to our commuters goes beyond providing safe and reliable transport; it is about continuously elevating every aspect of their journey.”
“By collaborating closely with our grantors at the DOTr and the LRTA, as well as our partners at PITX, we are introducing proactive, practical solutions at LRT-1 PITX Station. Whether through immediate deployment like satellite booths or long-term optimizations, we remain dedicated to delivering a seamless, efficient, and comfortable travel experience for the commuting public,” he added.
