Penang Transport Master Plan

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The Penang Transport Master Plan was drawn up to address the deteriorating traffic conditions in Penang and is projected to cost RM46 billion. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

Penang is located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia and consists of Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. With a population density in 2018 of 1,684/km2 (4,360/sq mi) it has among the highest population densities in Malaysia and is one of the country's most urbanised states. [4] Seberang Perai is Malaysia's second largest city by population. [5] It has a relatively small area for development and has a high level of vehicle ownership which exacerbates the traffic conditions. It has been estimated by Anak Pinang (Children of Penang) that the average evening rush hour speeds in George Town were below 20kmph. [6] In response to this, when the then newly elected Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang's administration in 2009, a plan was developed to alleviate these problems. PTMP was part of the 4th pillar of the Penang2030 development vision, which talks to investing in the built environment. [7]

In 2011, the Penang Transport Council (PTC) was formed. [8]

In April 2011, the state government along with the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency appointed AJC Planning Consultants Sdn Bhd, Halcrow and the Singapore Cruise Centre to carry out the Penang Transport Master Plan Study.

In October 2012, four reports were submitted to the state government

In 2013, the Halcrow study was adopted by the Penang state government and a preliminary agreement was signed with Zenith Corporation. [8]

In 2014, the Penang state government set out a request for proposal (RFP). [8]

In August 2015, then Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the SRS Consortium would be the project delivery partner (PDP) for the PTMP and had an estimated cost of about RM27 billion. [9]

In July 2020, the Penang state government created the Penang Infrastructure Corporation Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle which would lead the implementation of the PTMP. The board of directors would include Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Penang State Secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar, and state Public Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. [10]

Some RM100mil was allocated by the Pakatan Harapan government during Budget 2020 last October for the proposed Penang Hill cable car project.

In early June, the Federal Government announced it had cancelled funding for PTMP after Perikatan Nasional took over the Government. [3]

On 20 June 2020, State Works Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said that Penang would forge ahead with projects under the RM46bil Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) even if funding from the Federal Government was not forthcoming. [3]

On 1 July 2020, it was announced that Gamuda Bhd would be the project delivery partner (PDP) for the PTMP via its subsidiary SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd. The agreement includes the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, Pan Island Link 1 and 2A Expressway (PIL 1 and PIL 2A), and the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. [11] [12] [13]

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said it would consider issuing its own bonds for the PSR project and that it would not need the federal to approve such a move. [14] However, the President of the Consumers Association of Penang, Mohideen Abdul Kader, argued that the state government would be required to seek the federal government approval to pay for the PSR. [15]

Elements of the Master Plan

Penang has a small area for development and has a high level of vehicle ownership which exacerbates the traffic conditions. The Penang Transport Master Plan was drawn up by the Penang state government to address these issues by encouraging greater use of public transport through more rail-based systems throughout Penang at a cost of RM46 billion. [1] [2] [3]

In order to finance the project, the state government would build 3 small islands to the south of the main Penang island via land reclamation, reaching the size of 1,738ha. [6]

The Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) will involve several components

Currently, the Light Rapid Transit line between George Town and the Penang International Airport, also known as the Bayan Lepas LRT line, is being allocated the top priority by the Penang state government. [22] [23] [24] In April 2019, the LRT project was received conditional approval from the federal government. Construction is expected to start in June 2020. [25]

Ayer Itam line

Ayer Itam line
Ayer Itam line map.svg
Overview
StatusProposed
Owner Mass Rapid Transit Corporation
Locale Penang
Termini
Stations13
Website penanginfra.com
Service
Type Light rapid transit or monorail
Depot(s)Unknown
History
Planned openingTo be announced
Technical
Line length13 km (8.1 mi)
CharacterAt-grade and elevated
Track gauge Unknown

The Ayer Itam line is a proposed monorail line system in Penang. The 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) line is planned to connect George Town's city centre with its western suburbs of Ayer Itam and Paya Terubong, containing 13 stations. The line is a secondary component of the ongoing Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), and once constructed is planned to contain interchange stations towards the Mutiara line and Tanjong Tokong line. [26]

As early as 2002, the Penang state government proposed a monorail line from George Town's city centre (Komtar) towards Ayer Itam, although its actual alignment was never released. [27] [28] The project was ultimately cancelled in 2008. [29]

In early-2016, the line was revived under an entirely redesigned alignment, extending further south of Penang Island towards Paya Terubong. [30] The line was planned to be part of the second phase of the Penang Transport Master Plan, and is to be built after the completion of the Mutiara line. [31] The line is scheduled for opening by 2045. [32]

Stations

There are 13 stations over the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) route of the Ayer Itam line. The line's eastern terminus is located at Komtar, while its western terminus is located at Majestic Heights. [33]

Criticisms

Since its inception, the PTMP has faced opposition from special interest groups. Critics argued that the original Halcrow proposal prioritised public transport infrastructure over highway development and concerns have been raised regarding the environmental impact of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, which is intended to fund the PTMP. [34] [35] Opponents have also suggested that a bus rapid transit (BRT) system would be more cost-effective than the proposed Mutiara LRT. [36] Despite the LRT line receiving almost 98% public support, dissent against both the PTMP and PSR persisted, with the interest groups aligning themselves with right-wing opposition Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) to pressure the Penang state government to abandon the projects. [37] [38] [39]

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has asserted that due process was followed in obtaining approvals from the Malaysian federal government for the Mutiara LRT, including engagements with local stakeholders, and suggested the detractors to "look at the bigger picture". [40] [41] Proponents of the PTMP and transport experts countered that bus systems such as the BRT and the autonomous rail rapid transit (ART) were inadequate for Penang's congested streets, and that rail-based systems would function as a more efficient people mover, unimpeded by traffic conditions. [42] [43] Among others, the elected assemblyman for Pulau Tikus Joshua Woo Sze Zeng questioned the motives of the special interest groups and PAS in opposing the PTMP, and noted that the opponents were unable to propose viable alternative financing for public transportation schemes in the state. [44] [45]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang</span> State in Malaysia

Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Komtar</span> Skyscraper in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The Tun Abdul Razak Complex is a civic complex of five buildings within the central business district of George Town, Penang. It first opened on 2 December 1976. At the time of its completion in 1985, the central skyscraper of the complex, Komtar Tower, at 231.7 metres (760 ft), was the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia. The complex contains 1,420,000 square feet (132,000 m2) of office and retail space on a 27-acre (11 ha) superblock. It is a major bus terminal for Rapid Penang, and the seat of the Penang state government and the chief minister of Penang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seberang Perai</span> City in the Malaysian state of Penang

Seberang Perai is a city in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located on the Malay Peninsula and separated from Penang Island by the Penang Strait, it shares borders with Kedah to the north and east and Perak to the south. The city spans an area of 748 km2 (289 sq mi) and had a population of 946,092 as of 2020, making it the third largest city in Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayer Itam</span> Suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Ayer Itam is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Nested within the central valleys of Penang Island, it is located approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre. The suburb is home to Kek Lok Si, touted as the largest Buddhist temple in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Malaysia</span>

Rail transport in Malaysia has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the country's economic growth and modernization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paya Terubong</span> Suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Paya Terubong is a suburb of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located nearly 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest of the city centre, it is nestled within the central valleys of Penang Island and south of Air Itam. Originally an agricultural village, rapid development in the last decades of the 20th century has transformed the area into a residential suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Penang</span>

As the core of Malaysia's second largest conurbation, Penang has a relatively developed transport infrastructure. The state is well-connected by land, air and sea. The Penang International Airport is Malaysia's third busiest by passenger traffic and the busiest by export volume, while the Port of Penang is the main transshipment hub of northern Malaysia. The island city of George Town is physically connected to mainland Seberang Perai by two road bridges and the oldest ferry service in the country. The North–South Expressway and Keretapi Tanah Melayu's west coast line – two major arteries along western Peninsular Malaysia – run through the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farlim</span> Neighbourhood of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Farlim, officially Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, is a residential neighbourhood within the city of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. Located 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city centre, the township was created in the 1980s. Over the recent decades, Farlim has witnessed rapid development with several residential and commercial developments within the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Penang Conurbation</span> Metropolitan area in northwestern Malaysia

The Greater Penang Conurbation, also known as the George Town Conurbation, is the urban area within and surrounding the Malaysian state of Penang, including parts of neighbouring Kedah and Perak. It was home to over 2.84 million people as of 2020, the second largest metropolitan area in Malaysia after the Klang Valley. The conurbation is also the second largest economy in the country after the Klang Valley, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of US$30.2 billion in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutiara line</span> Proposed rail transit line in Penang, Malaysia.

The Mutiara LRT line is a proposed light rapid transit system in Penang. The 28 kilometres (17 mi) line is planned to connect George Town's city centre with its southern suburbs of Jelutong, Gelugor and Bayan Lepas, with a link towards Seberang Perai across the Penang Strait. Once completed, it is owned by the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC). The line, a component of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), is projected to contain 21 stations. Construction of the line is expected to begin in 2025 and will be completed by 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paya Terubong (state constituency)</span> State constituency in Penang, Malaysia

Paya Terubong is a state constituency in Penang, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Penang State Legislative Assembly since 1974. It covers two suburbs of George Town - Paya Terubong and parts of Air Itam - both at the centre of Penang Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalan Bukit Kukus Paired Road</span> Road in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The Jalan Bukit Kukus Paired Road is a dual carriageway in the city of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. The municipally-funded 5.5 km (3.4 mi) road stretches across the valleys at the centre of Penang Island, connecting Paya Terubong and Balik Pulau. Scheduled for completion by 2025, a 3.3 km (2.1 mi) stretch was opened for use in 2022. It is touted as the tallest elevated expressway in Malaysia, reaching the highest point of 59.4 m (195 ft) from the pile caps, or 61.5 m (202 ft) above ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Woo Sze Zeng</span> Malaysian politician

Joshua Woo Sze Zeng is a Malaysian politician from the Democratic Action Party (DAP). He was elected in the 15th Penang state election as the State Assemblyman for Pulau Tikus, serving as a member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly. He is known for his advocacy of urban redevelopment, transit-oriented development, and climate change adaptation projects such as Penang's Silicon Island, the Light Rail Transit (LRT), and multi-method flood mitigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital</span> Hospital in Penang, Malaysia

Kek Lok Si Charitable Hospital is a non-profit hospital in George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. Established in 2021, the 50-bed hospital at Ayer Itam is the first Buddhist hospital in the state and is run by the nearby Kek Lok Si Temple. The hospital provides services including internal medicine, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, radiology, anesthesiology, nephrology, medical diagnostics, general surgery and hemodialysis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanjong Tokong line</span> Proposed light rail transit line in Penang, Malaysia.

The Tanjong Tokong line, also spelt as the Tanjung Tokong line, is a proposed light rail transit or monorail system in Penang. The 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) line is planned to connect George Town's city centre with its northern suburb of Tanjong Tokong. The line has eight stations, with potential extensions towards Tanjong Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.

The Komtar station is a proposed railway terminal located in Komtar, at the intersection of Magazine Road, Carnavon Street, and Tek Soon Street in George Town, Penang. The station is projected to become a major terminal and interchange station of the Mutiara line, the Tanjong Tokong line, and the Ayer Itam line. It has connections towards the terminal of a proposed tram system in George Town, and the Komtar Bus Terminal, which serves as the primary public bus terminal serving Penang Island.

The Batu Uban station is a proposed light rail transit station located at Paya Terubong, along the Sultan Azlan Shah Road in George Town, Penang. The station is projected to be part of the Mutiara line, serving the suburb of Batu Uban. Construction is expected to start in September or October 2024, and will be completed by 2030, in line with the completion of the Mutiara line.

The SPICE station is a proposed light rail transit station located at Bayan Lepas in George Town, Penang. The station is projected to be part of the Mutiara line, and is adjacent to the SPICE Arena, serving the suburbs of Bayan Baru and Relau. Construction is expected to start in September or October 2024, and will be completed by 2030, in line with the completion of the Mutiara line.

The Penang Airport station is a proposed light rail transit station located at Bayan Lepas in George Town, Penang. The station is projected to be part of the Mutiara line, serving the Penang International Airport. Construction is expected to start in September or October 2024, and will be completed by 2030, in line with the completion of the Mutiara line. The construction of the line is expected to provide a fast and direct transit between George Town's city centre towards the airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayer Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass</span> Road in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The Ayer Itam–Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass is a dual carriageway under construction in the city of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. The 6 km (3.7 mi) road will connect the inland neighbourhood of Farlim to the coastal Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. Slated for completion by 2025, the bypass is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the state through the implemention of three new roadways.

References

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  45. ↑ Joshua Woo, Sze Zeng (23 Jun 2018). "Penang Transport Master Plan makes financial sense". Malaysiakini . Retrieved 30 Oct 2024.

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