NLEX Corp. on Monday said it is ready to implement additional measures to manage the expected increase in traffic volume on its toll roads during the holidays.
NLEX, a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), plans to boost its operations along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)-Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3.
MPTC is the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
The company will “field 1,200 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams, and toll lane personnel to assist motorists and ensure efficient traffic flow,” NLEX Corp. said in an e-mailed statement.
There will also be close monitoring of Balintawak, Mindanao, Karuhatan, Bocaue, San Simon, San Fernando, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas.
“High volume of vehicles is anticipated in these areas,” the company noted. “Emergency medical services and incident response teams will be prepositioned at strategic areas for immediate deployment.”
Meanwhile, Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the private operator of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), announced on Monday that it would implement shortened operating hours on Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve) and Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve).
This means that train commuters should plan their trips ahead of time.
“On Dec. 24, the last trip from Baclaran Station will leave at 8 p.m., while the last train from Balintawak Station will leave at 8:15 p.m. from the previous 9:15 p.m. departure on regular weekends/holiday schedule,” the company said.
“While on Dec. 31, the last trip from Baclaran Station will leave at 7 p.m. and the last train from Balintawak Station will depart 7:15 p.m.,” it also said. “The first trains on the said dates will still leave both ends of the train line at 4:30 a.m.”
The Roosevelt Station will still be temporarily closed due the ongoing construction of the Unified Grand Central Station, which will connect LRT-1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and MRT-7.
LRMC is the joint venture of Ayala Corp., MPIC, and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd. It holds the P65-billion, 32-year Public-Private Partnership contract to operate LRT-1 and build its extension to Cavite.
Meanwhile, MPCALA Holdings, Inc., which is also an MPTC unit, unveiled on Monday the first fully electric security vehicle of its Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).
“As part of its goal of becoming a green highway, the toll road company will transition its entire fleet of traffic and security vehicles in CALAX into environment-friendly electric vehicles (EV),” it said in an e-mailed statement.
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin