Why Penang needs LRT
Penang is a bustling state without a proper public transport infrastructure. Despite being the second smallest state in Malaysia and without natural resources, Penang has been punching above its weight by positioning itself as a robust industrial state, remarkably capturing 47% of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of this year, amid the global lockdown due to Covid-19.
The pattern of post-pandemic mass mobility, with a promising vaccine to be delivered next year, will very likely return to pre-pandemic proportions. Soon, roads in Penang will once again be packed with numerous users – workers, students, others – during peak hours.
The mobility modal split among the 225,000 person-trips taken during peak hours with a population of 1.56 million in a 2013 report was between 89% private vehicles and 11% shared transport services (including factory and school buses).
The predominant public transport at the time was buses. When the population increases above two million from the current 1.8 million, the projected person-trips will be more than 300,000 while the level of modal split will be the same.
In layman’s terms, if Penang’s status quo remains with just buses to serve the public, the increasing road usage will worsen traffic congestion.
This is why Penang needs a reliable, safe and efficient system – the Light Rail Transit (LRT) – as the main backbone for our public transport infrastructure.
The LRT is a time-tested rail system proven for its safety and reliability. The system is so established that according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), one of the foremost authorities with a transport specialist team that has implemented sustainable public transport all over the world, the global trend is to build and expand LRTs rather than metros or bus systems.
While many cities had opted for the proven system, Penang Forum wanted to introduce a bus system known as the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) or “trackless tram”. Despite its bombastic appellation, ART is basically a bus.
In fact, to David Levinson, professor of transport engineering at the University of Sydney, the title “trackless tram” is a “silly phrase” because it is actually a bus. The original cost for this bus was priced up to RM10 billion to be implemented in Kuching, Sarawak.
A comparison study between LRT and ART, conducted by the ADB for Penang, has recommended the LRT as a proven technology to be adopted. Penang deserves a time-tested public transport infrastructure which will serve as our main backbone line rather than a multibillion-ringgit bus system.
The pattern of post-pandemic mass mobility, with a promising vaccine to be delivered next year, will very likely return to pre-pandemic proportions. Soon, roads in Penang will once again be packed with numerous users – workers, students, others – during peak hours.
The mobility modal split among the 225,000 person-trips taken during peak hours with a population of 1.56 million in a 2013 report was between 89% private vehicles and 11% shared transport services (including factory and school buses).
The predominant public transport at the time was buses. When the population increases above two million from the current 1.8 million, the projected person-trips will be more than 300,000 while the level of modal split will be the same.
In layman’s terms, if Penang’s status quo remains with just buses to serve the public, the increasing road usage will worsen traffic congestion.
This is why Penang needs a reliable, safe and efficient system – the Light Rail Transit (LRT) – as the main backbone for our public transport infrastructure.
The LRT is a time-tested rail system proven for its safety and reliability. The system is so established that according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), one of the foremost authorities with a transport specialist team that has implemented sustainable public transport all over the world, the global trend is to build and expand LRTs rather than metros or bus systems.
While many cities had opted for the proven system, Penang Forum wanted to introduce a bus system known as the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) or “trackless tram”. Despite its bombastic appellation, ART is basically a bus.
In fact, to David Levinson, professor of transport engineering at the University of Sydney, the title “trackless tram” is a “silly phrase” because it is actually a bus. The original cost for this bus was priced up to RM10 billion to be implemented in Kuching, Sarawak.
A comparison study between LRT and ART, conducted by the ADB for Penang, has recommended the LRT as a proven technology to be adopted. Penang deserves a time-tested public transport infrastructure which will serve as our main backbone line rather than a multibillion-ringgit bus system.
y cant hv both bus n lrt? but lrt means burden to govt n indirectly penangites，hv a referendum, follow the majority.
ReplyDeleteSo vindictive this PN gomen. The self-proclaimed "non-political" Twit of A Twat FM withdrew a guarantee for the Penang gomen loan from ADB.
ReplyDeleteAnd Wee KHAT Siong already tutup mata and bagi jalan to his Master... PAS Kedah...and approved in principle Kulim airport....to kill Bayan Lepas...but ECRL and HSR no problem, simply re-align to pass through Azmin's Gombak, and even if HSR finish in JB instead of SGP, as long as got station in Pagoh and Ayer Hitam....
QUOTE
Kedah clears first hurdle for proposed Kulim International Airport, says MB
28 Oct 2020
ALOR SETAR, Oct 28 — Kedah cleared its first hurdle for the construction of the Kulim International Airport (KXP) when the government approved the proposed project at the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) meeting yesterday.
Kedah Mentri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the approval is among the official procedures for large-scale national projects that required debate in the NPPC chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“Yesterday, the KXP construction was officially approved for the first time since its proposal in 2014 and the Transport Ministry has promised to speed up the National Airport Strategic Plan (NASP) study on KXP.
“The ministry will also work on how to implement the KXP in line with the NASP study,” Muhammad Sanusi told reporters after chairing the state Exco meeting here today.
He said the state government during the debate also provided additional details to support the KXP proposal, in that a private company was keen to develop its land alongside the KXP construction project.
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The road-level ART that Lim Mah Hui's group has had success elsewhere, but look carefully at the city conditions where it succeeded.
ReplyDeleteWide streets, moderate existing traffic density. This prevents the ART itself becoming a traffic problem rather than a solution.
Implementing the ART in Penang's narrow, high density streets would be a false economy.
Old moneyed mfer, takes a trip to those European cities. Learnt about their transport system, especially bas, tram, let, art, metro etc before u fart.
DeleteMany of those European cities, especially those with long historical foundational history, share the similarities of Penang's narrow, high density streets!
The chronic transportation problems of Penang r caused by penangites of shellfish & narrowed mindset of one-upmanship in preserving the spurious heritage!
Example I have ridden on, Zurich's efficient and comfortable road-level tramway system. Yes, successful system.
DeleteIt runs on 4 Lane roads, 2 lanes for cars, 2 lanes for trams. When trams are not passing, cars are allowed to use the tramway,
effectively making it a 4 lane road.
Moderate traffic.
In the high density City centre, underground trains are used.
Road-level trams would be a failure there.
Now, how many roads in Penang city area have 4 lanes ?
Zurich!
DeleteHow about those narrow, winding & meandering roads of Paris, Milan, Vienna, Stockholm, London suburbs etc etc?
Ooop… don't used Yankee cities & towns. There ain't no histories there to justify any transportational planning.
y european city? so antiquate. y penang not hv 99 ring road like beijing wakaka.
DeleteParis - extensive underground and above ground railway transit system.
DeleteMilan - very efficient underground and above ground railway.
London - the world's first and still one of the largest urban railway system.
Stockholm ? Stockholm is a classic medium density , uncrowded city - good place for buses and trams.
Don't try to bullshit about transport systems, you obviously know nothing.
Bullshit?
DeleteOld moneyed mfer, takes a trip to those cities u have just mentioned.
Ooop… don't just crowd around tourist spots. Strongly recommended suburbs, unless u would want to fart about suburbs ain't parts of those cities!
Also, how many roads in those cities, outside newly built areas have 4 lanes & well defined underground/above ground trains/tram systems?
Penang too can have a well defined mrt (underground) just Long island NY & HK.
Sizes of the existing roads ain't the constraints. Planning w/o political/racial interferences is!