Quezon City to host new transport hub

Quezon City will soon have its own transport hub similar to that of the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said its three-hectare property located at the corner of Elliptical Road and Commonwealth Avenue in QUezon City   is expected to rival the size of  PITX.

“Our property in Quezon City is centrally located and accessible, positioned in a location that maximizes connectivity with the city and surrounding regions,” GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said.

The new transport hub, which will be called “Project Hub”, is expected to augment several major transport lines already plying through the area.

By 2027, the hub is expected to enhance access to the neighboring Philcoa station of the Metro Rail  Transit -7 (MRT-7) when it begins operating from the North Triangle Common Station in North Edsa to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

The end view of the Project Hub is a world-class intermodal transport hub that is a well-organized modern facility that streamlines the bus travel experience, focusing on efficiency, passenger comfort, and seamless connectivity with other transport modes including MRT-7,”added Veloso.

Veloso explained that GSIS, Department of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes, and QC Mayor Joy Belmonte met last week to discuss the project.

The DOTr, with the help of the World Bank, will plan, finance, and implement the intermodal transport hub while the MMDA will conduct the feasibility study covering both traffic management and basic engineering design.

The QC government, as the host city of the project, shall ease and facilitate the expected permits and other requirements for the smooth implementation of the project.

While DOTr-led studies and preparatory designs are being done, the GSIS, MMDA, and the QC government will provide additional parking on the GSIS property for the general public.

The plan is to prepare some 300 temporary parking slots on the site while waiting for the permanent development to get underway.

“The GSIS’s unwavering focus is to serve our members and pensioners, ensuring that their needs are met with integrity and excellence, with the best customer experience.  Through the Board of Trustees’ approval and guidance, the GSIS will continue to support the Project Hub which has a pivotal role to serve them better.  As long as there is a provision for their needs, we will affirm our commitment to advancing this sustainable initiative,” Veloso noted.