MRT-7 pins location for bus terminal link

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March 6, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The private builder of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7) has identified the final location for its northernmost station, which will be linked to a bus terminal for trips to Central Luzon.

In an update, San Jose del Monte Mayor Florida Perez-Robes said San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has finally shared with local executives the revised alignment for the MRT-7.

Based on the new alignment, the 14th and final station will be located close to the borders of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Caloocan City, before SM City San Jose del Monte.

MRT-7 builder SMC Mass Rail Transit 7 Inc. also disclosed plans to integrate the station with an intermodal transport terminal. The ITT will be equipped with bus bays capable of handling up to 60 buses at the same time.

The ITT will be connected to Bocaue and Balagtas through the North Luzon Expressway. From the ITT, buses will pass through 22 kilometers of roads in San Jose del Monte and Sta. Maria.

Still, SMC informed the local government of San Jose del Monte it is proceeding with the partial opening of the MRT-7 by the second quarter of 2027.

SMC aims to operate first the Quezon City leg of the railway, between North Avenue and Sacred Heart, to offer commuters another way of reaching the northern end of Metro Manila.

Latest estimates from SMC showed that the MRT-7 would ferry more than 38,000 passengers per hour during peak periods, especially as it will traverse Commonwealth Avenue, the busiest road in the metro.

As a whole, MRT-7 will operate stations in Caloocan City (Tala) and Bulacan (San Jose del Monte) as well. Once the project is finished, travel time between North Avenue and San Jose del Monte will be cut to less than 35 minutes, from three hours currently.

To date, SMC has completed 82.1 percent of MRT-7. By segment, the railway has reached an 89.91-percent progress in rolling stock and 80.84-percent delivery in civil works.

MRT-7 is one of the longest-delayed projects in the public-private partnership pipeline, as its construction began a decade ago in 2016, spanning three administrations.

The railway — served by 36 train sets made up of 108 rolling stocks — is projected to carry at least 300,000 passengers daily initially, climbing to 850,000 by the 12th year of operation.