Roosevelt station (LRT)

Fernando Poe Jr. station, also known in its previous name Roosevelt station, is the current northern terminus of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) system. It opened on October 22, 2010, as part of the LRT-1 North Extension Project, as Roosevelt () and got its current name on August 20, 2023, almost two years after the namesake avenue was officially renamed after the Filipino actor.

Fernando Poe Jr. is one of the two LRT-1 stations serving Quezon City, the other being Balintawak.

It is located along EDSA at the boundary of barangays Veterans Village and Ramon Magsaysay (Bago Bantay) in Quezon City, both of Projects 7 and 8, respectively. It links to Congressional Avenue and Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue.

History

Initial planning and construction

The station was first planned for the second phase of the MRT Line 3, known as Muñoz station. The second phase would have extended the MRT Line 3 from its northern terminus at to to create a seamless rail loop around Metro Manila. The station was planned to be located near the San Francisco del Monte River. The station was also planned as an intermediate station, then called Roosevelt, on the EDSA North Transit (ENT) Link, a separate project that would have linked the MRT Line 3 with the LRT Line 1 and PNR North Main Line in Caloocan.

The second phase of the MRT-3 and the ENT Link were shelved in favor of the Line 1 North Extension Project, a extension of LRT-1 to the North Avenue station of MRT Line 3 as part of the MRT-LRT closing the loop project to integrate the operations of Line 1 and Line 3. The station site was changed from the San Francisco del Monte River to the front of WalterMart North EDSA. However, the integration of MRT-3 and LRT-1 operations has yet to happen until the expected partial opening of the North Triangle Station in 2025. Construction of the North Extension started in July 2008 and was completed in 2010. Roosevelt station was opened on October 22, 2010.

The station was named after Roosevelt Avenue, which was in turn named in honor of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The avenue was later renamed Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue on December 10, 2021.

Temporary closure

On August 7, 2020, it was announced that Roosevelt station would be temporarily closed from September 5. As part of the construction of the North Triangle Common Station, the tracks extending eastward from Roosevelt station have to be realigned in order to provide the necessary connection to North Triangle station. Hence, during this temporary closure, Balintawak station once again served as the northern terminus of the line. Originally scheduled until December 8, 2020, the temporary closure was later extended until further notice.

On November 26, 2022, the Light Rail Manila Corporation announced the planned reopening of Roosevelt station on December 5, pending testing and system adaptation to the new signaling system; They followed up and confirmed that the reopening would proceed as scheduled.

Renaming

On August 20, 2023, Roosevelt station was renamed Fernando Poe Jr. station, two years after the adjacent avenue was named after the Filipino actor through Republic Act (RA) No. 11608. The renaming of the station was approved through LRTA Board of Directors Resolution No. 002-2023, following a request from Senator Lito Lapid to rename the station as a "necessary consequence" of RA 11608.

Transportation links

There are several buses, jeepneys, and UV Express plying EDSA, as well as Congressional Avenue and Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue. The station serves as an interchange with the EDSA Carousel, which is accessible through the emergency exits of the station.

Nearby landmarks

The station is close to various shopping places and malls, particularly WalterMart North EDSA, Jackman Plaza Muñoz, Muñoz Market and S&R Membership Shopping - Congressional.

Gallery

File:Roads in Quezon City 16.jpg, View of the station from street level
LRT1 FPJ Station and EDSA, Q.C., Dec 2023.jpg, View of the station from the concourse level footbridge
File:Mrtrooseveltjf.JPG, Overview of the track from the station
File:LRT Line 1 (Metro Manila Districts; 2023-08-20) E911a 11.jpg, LRTA 13000 class train at the station
File:LRT_Line_1_(Metro_Manila_Districts;_2023-08-20)_E911a_27.jpg, Ceremonial event
File:LRT Line 1 (Metro Manila Districts; 2023-08-20) E911a 29.jpg, Unveiled marker
File:LRT_Line_1_(Metro_Manila_Districts;_2023-08-20)_E911a_31.jpg, Pop-up exhibit

See also

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando Poe Jr. station
Manila Light Rail Transit System stations
Railway stations in the Philippines opened in 2010
Buildings and structures in Quezon City