DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan presents some of data related to traffic and transportation. (PIA-NCR photo)
MANILA, (PIA) — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced Thursday it has completed a pre-feasibility study for a “pilot” cable car system connecting the proposed Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) to Antipolo.
Timothy John Batan, DOTr undersecretary for planning and project development, revealed the project during the “Build Better More” media forum organized by the Presidential Communications Office.
“We have a completed pre-feasibility study for our first and pilot cable car project that will connect MRT-4’s Taytay station along Manila East road to Antipolo,” Batan said.
“One of the best applications of a cable car technology is in mountainous terrains,” he added.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is supporting the MRT-4 project, funded the pre-feasibility study and will finance a detailed feasibility study next.
“Next step there is a detailed feasibility study, which the ADB is also financing,” Batan said.
“So we are now pursuing the cable car technology for a mixed solution for the National Capital Region,” he added.
The cable car system aims to provide efficient public transport to densely populated areas in Antipolo, going to and from Metro Manila, currently accessible only via congested roads.
“This connection would integrate these areas with the National Capital Region’s public transport network,” Batan explained.
He explained that the project has the potential to provide inclusive, reliable, and safe access to transportation.
The MRT-4 is a planned 12.7-kilometer elevated railway serving eastern Metro Manila and parts of Rizal province. It will have 10 stations and traverse five local government units.
DOTr officials expect the cable car project to increase MRT-4’s viability while promoting a shift to low-carbon public transport.
A post on the Public-Private Partnership Center website (ppp.gov.ph), meanwhile, said, “the MRT-4 is an upcoming fully elevated railway, high-capacity, mass-transit system to serve the eastern side of Metro Manila including the highly populated areas of the province of Rizal.” (JCO/PIA-NCR)
