SEATTLE, USA — While the subway from Makati City to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in the Philippines has been under construction for a long time, the government has completed the procurement of the remaining parts of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) which is targeted for completion by 2029. In Seattle, in the 1960s, a monorail was built in less than a year and is still in use today, with only two gates and about the same distance between BGC and Makati.
Built in April 1961 and completed on March 24, 1962, the Seattle Center Monorail was built by Alweg Rapid Transit Systems before the start of the World's Fair. It reached a value of $3.5 million (about P1.7 billion) and was immediately recovered by the company before the end of the fair on October 21, 1962.
The monorail has only two gates: Westlake Center Station and Seattle Center Station. Westlake Center Station is located inside a mall a five-minute walk from major hotels, while Seattle Center Station is close to city attractions like the Space Needle and the Museum of Pop Culture. It is open from Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 p.m. every Sunday.
Children under five ride free. Youth (6-18) will be charged $1.75 (P101), while seniors (19-64) will be charged $3.50 (P203). Senior citizens and others with special needs also get a discount. Tickets can be purchased online, with options for one-way or round-trip.
Riding the Seattle monorail is like a roller coaster but much calmer, offering a great view of the city, especially during autumn.
