PNR taking page from One Ayala playbook

Chairman Michael Ted Macapagal of the Philippine National Railways expressed admiration for One Ayala Transport Terminal, saying it is a good model for the government to emulate in its effort to minimize traffic gridlocks, if not to solve it outright.

The construction of PNR’s North-South Commuter Railway, which will run upon completion from Angeles City in Pampanga to Calamba City in Laguna, a distance of 147 kilometers, includes 36 train stations along the way.

According to Macapagal, NSCR can take a page from the One Ayala playbook.

Chairman Macapagal wants to turn NSCR stations into a center of commerce, with condominiums, malls, and shops of all kinds in the immediate vicinity. He also envisions housing subdivisions, entertainment centers, hotels, and tourist spots a little farther afield.

But for the moment, the purpose, explained Macapagal, is to make every station a transportation hub, where commuters get off from public utility vehicles and motorists leave their cars on a parking lot so that they can take the NSCR train to their destination in either direction, north or south.

One Ayala Transport Terminal is where MRT-3 and overland passenger transportation (city buses, utility vehicle express vans, and jeepneys) converge. It is a major stop for P2P (Point to Point) buses, so-called because they are only allowed to load and unload passengers on major stations, and they are given a lane of their own thereby minimizing road congestion and cutting travel time.

“Our immediate goal is to provide the same level of comfort, security and seamless travel experience to the public,” he explained.

One Ayala is located on the corner of EDSA and Ayala Avenue. It is a walking distance to SM Makati, Glorietta 4 and 5, and Ayala Malls. There are food stalls, shops offering all kinds of goods and services, and, of course, the ubiquitous ATMs. Across the road lie high-end condominiums that cater to expatriates.

“If you visit China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, you will realize that the transport inter-connectivity being provided by the railway system is key to economic development in those countries,” Macapagal pointed out.

He added the same is true in the US, Canada, Great Britain, and countries in the European Union such as France, Germany, and Italy, “but on a smaller scale since these countries are primarily dependent on cars and trucks to transport people and goods.”

The top PNR official said the Asian economic powerhouses are the better model for the Philippines.

Ayala Corporation’s top executives recently gave Macapagal a guided tour of One Ayala Transport Terminal. The corporation owns and operates the terminal.