North Avenue Station (MRT)

North Avenue station is an elevated Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station located on the MRT Line 3 (MRT-3) system in Diliman, Quezon City. Located on the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), it is named after the adjacent North Avenue, which intersects the highway. It is the current northern terminus of the line.

The North Avenue Depot, an underground depot where the trains of the line are kept and maintained, is located near the station. The elevated tracks terminate abruptly beyond the station, but there is sufficient room for a terminating train to leave the station and stop before switching to the opposite track and reentering the station to begin the journey south.

History

North Avenue station was planned as part of the Phase 1 of the EDSA LRT III project, following a Build-Lease-Transfer (BLT) agreement between the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and EDSA LRT Corporation on September 22, 1992. However, the project faced delays due to government investigations into the contract, and construction was postponed until the Supreme Court of the Philippines upheld the contract's legality in 1995. Construction finally began on October 15, 1996 as the MRT III project, under a BLT contract awarded to the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC), led by a consortium of local companies.

North Avenue station was opened on December 15, 1999, as part of MRT's initial section from this station to . A link bridge connecting the station to Trinoma, opened in 2007, was later added.

Nearby landmarks

The station is directly connected to Trinoma. It is also close to SM North EDSA, one of the Philippines' largest malls. Other nearby landmarks include the Veritas Tower (home to the Veritas 846 studios), SM Cyber West Avenue, UNTV Broadcast Center, and Triangle Park, where Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Vertis North, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Philippine Science High School Main Campus, Quezon City Science High School, and Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center are located. The Philippine Medical Association secretariat, Phil-Am, and Sogo Hotel North EDSA are also within reach of the station.

Transportation links

North Avenue station is a major hub for buses plying the EDSA route and one of the most crowded MRT-3 stations during rush hour. Transport terminals are also located near the station, particularly at Trinoma and SM North EDSA, respectively, while the North Avenue bus stop of EDSA Carousel is located at the center island of EDSA, accessible directly from the station. Taxis, jeepneys, minibuses, and UV Express vans also stop in the vicinity.

Gallery

Image:MRT-3 North Avenue Station Exterior 1.jpg, The entrance of the station from TriNoma
Image:MRT-3 Train North Avenue 3.jpg, A train at the station's northbound track
File:03163jfNorth Avenue Santolan Annapolis MRT Station Camp Aguinaldo EDSA Quezon Cityfvf 07.jpg, View of the station from street level

See also

*List of rail transit stations in Metro Manila
* Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 3

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:North Avenue station (MRT)
Manila Metro Rail Transit System stations
Buildings and structures in Quezon City
Railway stations in the Philippines opened in 1999