The Roosevelt Station of the Light Rail Transit opened early today (October 22, 2010), bringing us closer to the goal of "closing the loop", connecting LRT Line 1 from Baclaran to Monumento to the Metro Rail Transit that runs along Edsa.

LRTA Administrator Lawyer Rafael Rodriguez said the opening of the Roosevelt Station "is part of the objective to provide seamless connection between the two lines."

He added that no fare increase will be effected despite the additional station. The fare from Baclaran to Roosevelt Station costs P20.                 

Rodriguez said the LRTA will continue to improve its services, and is committed to provide a safe, efficient and reliable mode of transportation to commuters.

The new station is expected to draw 3,000 passengers coming from Munoz, Project 6 and Project 8 areas, which will add to the half a million riders of LRT-1 boarding from all points.

Two additional trains will be deployed to accommodate the additional 3,000 passengers, who use the LRT at different times within the 17--hour operation of mass transit facility. Travel time from Baclaran to Roosevelt is less than an hour.

The Roosevelt Station is equipped with facilities and amenities -- like escalators, elevators, benches, CCTV, comfort rooms and Public Address System to ensure better services to the riding public, said Engr. Rodrigo Bulario, North Extension Project manager.

Bulario said the new station is more spacious and complies with the Accessibility Law, which requires institutions to install facilities and other amenities for persons with disability.

The Roosevelt station is installed with equipment for the smart contactless card and unified ticketing system, which is expected to be implemented when the North Extension Project is completed by the last quarter of 2011.

The total cost of the extension project is more than 9 billion pesos, which includes a common station to link LRT-1 and MRT-3 -- and the future MRT-7, which is still on the drawing board.