MRT Line 4
The Manila Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4) is a proposed elevated heavy rail rapid transit line in Metro Manila, Philippines, spanning 12.7 kilometres (7.9 mi) with 10 stations, designed to connect the eastern suburbs from EDSA-Ortigas in Mandaluyong to Taytay in Rizal province, alleviating congestion along Ortigas Avenue and integrating with the existing MRT-3 at Ortigas station.[1][2] As of November 2025, the project is in the pre-construction phase, with detailed engineering design finalization and right-of-way (ROW) acquisition ongoing; construction is expected to commence in 2026 under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), with operations projected by 2031.[3][4] The line aims to serve over 400,000 passengers daily, featuring barrier-free access, modern signaling, and potential integration with future cable car extensions to Antipolo.[5][1]History and Development
The MRT-4 was first conceptualized in the 1990s during the Ramos administration as part of efforts to expand Metro Manila's rail network, initially proposed as a different alignment but revived in the 2010s to address eastern corridor congestion.[6] In 2014, the project was prioritized under the Build, Build, Build program, with feasibility studies completed by 2017 and a shift from an initial monorail design to a conventional elevated rail system in 2022 for cost and capacity efficiency.) The project received approvals from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 2020, with funding secured from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) totaling around US$1 billion (approximately P59 billion).[1][2] Delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ROW issues pushed the timeline; as of November 2025, DOTr is advancing procurement and environmental clearances, with contracts expected in 2026.[7]Route and Stations
The MRT-4 will run elevated along Ortigas Avenue Extension and Manila East Road, serving densely populated areas in Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, and Taytay. The 12.7 km route includes 10 stations: Ortigas (interchange with MRT-3), Meralco, Tiendesitas, Rosario, Ortigas Ave. Ext./C5 (proposed interchange with future lines), St. Joseph, Cainta Junction, San Juan, Tikling, and Taytay (terminus with depot).[2] Stations will feature 120-meter platforms for 5-car trains (expandable), with the Taytay depot spanning 11.5 hectares for maintenance. The alignment avoids flood-prone areas and integrates with bus rapid transit and future developments in the eastern corridor.[1]Operations and Features
Upon completion, the MRT-4 will operate as a medium- to high-capacity line with 5-car trains carrying up to 1,000 passengers each, achieving headways of 4 minutes during peak hours using Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling for automation potential.[2] The system will include energy-efficient electric trains, platform screen doors for safety, and full accessibility with elevators, ramps, and tactile guides for persons with disabilities. Daily operations are planned from early morning to late evening, with an initial fleet housed at the Taytay depot. The project emphasizes sustainability, incorporating regenerative braking and green building standards for stations to minimize environmental impact.[1]Impact and Future
The MRT-4 is expected to reduce travel time from Taytay to Ortigas from over an hour by road to about 30 minutes by rail, serving over 400,000 daily commuters and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by shifting commuters from private vehicles and buses along the congested Ortigas corridor (average daily traffic: 185,000 vehicles as of 2021).[2][5] It will boost economic growth in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal by linking residential, commercial, and industrial hubs, supporting urban development under the Philippine National Railways plan. Future extensions may include a cable car link from Taytay to Antipolo, enhancing connectivity to the Marikina Valley, with overall project cost potentially reaching P100 billion due to scope adjustments. Ongoing ROW acquisition and financing talks ensure progress toward integration into the broader Metro Manila rail network.[7][1]Overview
Route Summary
MRT Line 4 is a 12.7 km elevated railway line with 10 stations, designed to connect the EDSA-Ortigas Avenue junction near the existing MRT Line 3 Ortigas Station to the intersection of Taytay Diversion Road and Manila East Road in Taytay, Rizal.[8] The route primarily follows Ortigas Avenue and its extension eastward, traversing key areas in eastern Metro Manila including Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, and Cainta before reaching Rizal province, thereby serving densely populated corridors with high commuter demand.[8] This alignment enhances regional connectivity by linking urban centers to suburban and provincial road networks at its eastern terminus near Taytay Municipal Hall.[8] The line features a fully elevated double-track viaduct structure, constructed to bypass severe ground-level traffic congestion along its path and ensure efficient rail operations at speeds up to 80 km/h.[8][1] By providing an alternative to road travel, MRT Line 4 addresses the heavy vehicular load on Ortigas Avenue Extension, which recorded an annual average daily traffic of 185,699 vehicles in 2021.[2] Current peak-hour commutes along this corridor, such as from Tikling in Taytay to EDSA-Crossing in Mandaluyong, can exceed three hours, a duration the line aims to significantly shorten through dedicated rail service.[2]Capacity Projections
Upon completion, MRT Line 4 is projected to serve an estimated 400,000 passengers daily, drawing from corridor demand studies along the Ortigas Avenue extension where current road traffic exceeds 185,000 vehicles per day.[4][2] The line's operational capacity will be supported by 5-car trainsets, each accommodating up to 1,000 passengers, operating at initial headways of 4 minutes during peak periods.[2] This configuration, combined with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling, allows for headway reduction to 2 minutes, enabling scalability to meet growing demand.[2] Designed to handle peak-hour demand of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 passengers per hour per direction, the system aims to alleviate severe overcrowding on parallel roadways like Ortigas Avenue and Marcos Highway, where average daily traffic has surged 81% since 2012.[8][2] Economically, the project is justified by substantial travel time savings, reducing commutes from current peak durations of 2 to 3 hours along the corridor.[2][9]History
Early Proposals
The origins of MRT Line 4 trace back to the mid-1990s during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, when it was initially conceptualized as Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 4 as part of broader efforts to expand rail connectivity in eastern Metro Manila. Proposed in 1995, the line aimed to alleviate urban congestion by linking key areas in Quezon City, forming an early component of what would later be termed the Manila East Rail Transit concept. The plan envisioned an 18-kilometer route starting from the Old Bilibid Prison compound in Manila, proceeding along Claro M. Recto Avenue and España Boulevard to Welcome Rotonda, then through Quezon Avenue, Elliptical Road, and Commonwealth Avenue to the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Quirino Highway in Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches, Quezon City. Estimated at PHP 16 billion, the project was endorsed in principle by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) for approval, with a target completion before 2000; it was championed by Ayala Land Inc. and a consortium of French and Filipino engineering firms under the Build-Lease-Transfer framework.[10] Early alignments for the line varied to address different connectivity needs in the densely populated eastern corridor. The 1995 proposal focused exclusively on Quezon City, running an entirely elevated light rail system from Welcome Rotonda northward to Quirino Highway without extending into Rizal. Subsequent refinements in the late 1990s, as studied in the Metropolitan Manila Urban Transport and Land Use Integration Study (MMUTIS, 1996–1999) supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), incorporated a spur line branching from Batasan North along Commonwealth Avenue toward San Mateo in Rizal province, extending the total length to 28 kilometers while maintaining the core Quezon City route from Old Bilibid (Recto) to Quirino Highway in phases (Phase 1: 15.1 km to UP Diliman; Phase 2: 7.5 km to Quirino Avenue), with projected peak-hour ridership of 25,000–35,000 passengers.[11] By the early 2000s, concepts shifted toward a more focused east-west orientation, with alternative routes including a potential link from Cubao to Antipolo to better serve circumferential traffic flows and integrate with existing lines like MRT-3 at Cubao. These evolutions culminated in the selection of the Ortigas-Taytay alignment by the mid-2010s, prioritizing access to the Ortigas Central Business District and minimizing land acquisition impacts compared to northern or southern variants.[12] Feasibility studies in the 2000s, supported by JICA, underscored the urgency of the line by analyzing severe traffic bottlenecks in eastern Metro Manila. The MMUTIS highlighted the need for a medium-capacity system to handle projected demand along radial corridors like Commonwealth Avenue and potential spurs to Rizal, emphasizing congestion issues. Later assessments, including JICA's 2014 Roadmap Study, identified chronic jams on C-5 Road and Ortigas Avenue Extension as critical issues, driven by rapid residential and commercial growth in areas like Pasig and Cainta; these roads experienced average speeds below 20 km/h during peak hours due to high vehicle volumes and limited capacity. The studies recommended an automated guideway transit (AGT) system along the Ortigas-Taytay route—spanning 18.4 km with 16.2 km elevated and 2.2 km underground—to divert traffic from automobiles, improve east-west connectivity, and link with LRT Line 2 at V. Mapa and MRT Line 3 at Shaw Boulevard, with projected daily ridership up to 485,700 passengers by 2053.[11][12] Prior to 2015, the project faced significant hurdles that stalled progress beyond conceptual and feasibility stages. Funding shortages limited advancement, as resources were redirected toward completing MRT Line 3 expansions and maintenance amid operational challenges on existing lines. Competing national priorities, including the rehabilitation of MRT-3 and the rollout of other urban infrastructure under successive administrations, further delayed formal commitments, leaving early proposals in limbo despite repeated endorsements for their potential to ease eastern corridor congestion.[10]Project Development
In 2015, the project, initially designated as Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 4, received approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board as a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative, with an estimated cost of ₱50.15 billion for the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of an 11-kilometer elevated rail line connecting Ortigas Avenue to Taytay in Rizal province.[13] The approval aimed to attract private sector involvement to alleviate traffic congestion in eastern Metro Manila, though the project was subsequently removed from the priority PPP list in 2016 amid shifting priorities and expiration of the approval.[14] By December 2019, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) secured renewed NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) approval for the project, branded as MRT Line 4, covering a 15.56-kilometer elevated monorail from N. Domingo in Quezon City to Taytay with 11 stations, at an estimated cost of ₱59.3 billion.[15] Funding milestones advanced significantly in the early 2020s, with the DOTr pursuing multilateral support to cover the expenses. In 2024, the alignment was adjusted to 12.7 kilometers from EDSA-Ortigas to Taytay with 10 stations, and the design shifted from monorail to heavy rail on the recommendation of consultant IDOM to accommodate higher passenger volumes and future demand. This change, along with inflation and material costs, increased the projected cost to at least ₱100 billion as of May 2025. In November 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $1 billion loan agreement to finance key aspects of the project's construction phase.[16][17][5] The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) expressed interest in co-financing, with negotiations targeting an additional $537.4 million to complement the ADB portion and ensure comprehensive coverage.[18] These financial commitments underscore the project's integration into the national infrastructure agenda, prioritizing sustainable urban mobility. The MRT Line 4 remains under the overall management of the DOTr, which oversees planning, construction, and regulatory compliance, while operations and maintenance are structured as a future PPP to leverage private expertise for long-term efficiency.[19] Environmental clearance was formalized with the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on October 31, 2023, following the submission and review of the Environmental Impact Statement that addressed potential impacts on air quality, noise, and urban ecosystems along the route.[20] As of November 2025, the DOTr is advancing right-of-way acquisition and has received interest from over 80 local and foreign firms for transit-oriented developments around the stations, with construction expected to commence in 2026.[3][4][7]Planning and Design
Alignment Selection
The alignment for MRT Line 4 was finalized in 2019 following approval by the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC), selecting the Ortigas-Taytay corridor as the preferred route over other alternatives evaluated through a multicriteria analysis that considered factors such as cost, environmental impact, accessibility, traffic demand, and integration with existing infrastructure.[21] This corridor was chosen to directly serve the high-density areas of Pasig and Cainta, which collectively house approximately 1.2 million residents, thereby addressing significant population growth and urban expansion in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal Province.[8] The decision prioritized connectivity to major commercial hubs like Ortigas Center while maximizing coverage for the estimated 185,699 to 500,000 daily commuters reliant on congested eastern roads such as Ortigas Avenue and Manila East Road.[8] Traffic impact studies, including a comprehensive Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), informed the selection by demonstrating the corridor's potential to alleviate severe congestion and reduce travel times by up to 50% for commuters traveling between Rizal and central business districts.[8] These studies highlighted the route's ability to bypass flood-prone low-lying areas, such as those near the Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway, through an elevated design that incorporates advanced drainage systems capable of handling 454.9 mm/hour rainfall and 50- to 100-year flood return periods, thereby enhancing resilience against frequent typhoons and seasonal flooding in the region.[8] The elevated alignment utilizes existing road rights-of-way along Ortigas Avenue Extension and Taytay Diversion Road, minimizing land acquisition needs and environmental disruption compared to alternative alignments that would require more extensive underground or at-grade construction in vulnerable zones.[8] A key aspect of the integration planning was ensuring seamless connectivity with the broader rail network, including interchanges with MRT Line 3 at the EDSA-Ortigas station and future lines such as the Metro Manila Subway at Ortigas Avenue.[8] This design facilitates multimodal transfers and supports transit-oriented development, with stations positioned within 500 meters of high-density residential and commercial areas to capture a substantial share of the corridor's commuter base.[8] Following the 2019 feasibility study, which initially proposed a monorail system, the alignment was revised to an elevated heavy rail configuration to achieve higher capacity—up to 1,000 passengers per train—and greater cost-efficiency over the long term, accommodating projected demand growth while aligning with interoperability standards for the national rail network.[5][8] This shift was validated through detailed engineering assessments that emphasized the heavy rail's superior performance in handling peak-hour volumes and reducing operational costs relative to the lower-capacity monorail option; the change was confirmed in the 2022 detailed engineering design, leading to potential cost increases to up to P100 billion as of May 2025, with construction expected to commence in 2026.[8][5][22]Station and Infrastructure Design
The MRT Line 4 features 10 elevated stations spanning 12.7 kilometers along Ortigas Avenue Extension from the EDSA-Ortigas junction in Pasig to Taytay in Rizal province.[8] These stations incorporate two primary typologies: narrow stations measuring approximately 120 meters in length and 18.5 meters in width, and standard-width stations at 120 meters long and 29 meters wide, with the EDSA station designed as a double-concourse type extending to 165 meters in length to accommodate higher ridership.[8] The stations, listed from west to east, are: EDSA (at the EDSA-Ortigas intersection in Pasig), Meralco (near Meralco Avenue in Pasig), Tiendesitas (in Pasig), Rosario (in Pasig), St. Joseph (straddling Pasig and Cainta), Cainta Junction (in Cainta), San Juan (in Cainta), Tikling Junction (in Taytay), Manila East Road (in Taytay), and Taytay (near Manila East Road and Taytay Diversion Road in Taytay).[8][2]| Station Name | Location | Platform Length | Station Type/Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDSA | EDSA-Ortigas, Pasig | 165 m | Double Concourse / 29 m |
| Meralco | Meralco Avenue, Pasig | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| Tiendesitas | Tiendesitas, Pasig | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| Rosario | Rosario, Pasig | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| St. Joseph | Pasig-Cainta boundary | 120 m | Standard / 29 m |
| Cainta Junction | Cainta | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| San Juan | Cainta | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| Tikling Junction | Taytay | 120 m | Narrow / 18.5 m |
| Manila East Road | Taytay | 120 m | Standard / 29 m |
| Taytay | Taytay Diversion Road, Taytay | 120 m | Standard / 29 m |