BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang government’s free ‘Park & Ride’ shuttle service will be extended to cover Bandar Perda in Bukit Mertajam and Highway Auto City in Juru effective Sept 3.

State local government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said two new

feeder hubs, with free car parking, would be open next to the state Inland Revenue Board (IRB) office

in Bandar Perda and next to the Concept Hall in Auto City.

He said the move was an extension to the state’s pilot Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (Best) which provided free shuttle services between Sunway Carnival Mall Seberang Jaya and the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Area since March last year.

He said four Rapid Penang buses would ply on 20-minute intervals from 6.10am to 8.10am and from 4.30pm to 6.50pm, from Monday to Friday, between the two new feeder hubs and existing bus stops on both sides of the Penang Bridge toll plaza in Prai.

“Commuters can ride on these free feeder buses and hop on any of the Best A, Best B or Best C buses near the Penang Bridge toll plaza to get across to the island,” Chow told reporters during a trial run of the feeder bus service in Highway Auto City, Juru, yesterday.

He said the Best buses, which recorded an average of 800 passengers daily, was introduced to ease the burden of factory employees travelling to work daily from the mainland to the island.

He said the Best buses would stop at Queensbay Mall from Sept 3, adding that commuters could get down there to take a local bus to Komtar or other destinations on the island.

Chow said anyone can use the new feeder services and Best service as they were not only restricted to factory employees.

“We want the public to also enjoy the state’s free shuttle service between the mainland and island.

“Apart from an average of RM160,000 spent monthly on the 16 Best buses, the state will spend another RM24,800 per month for the additional four buses,” he said.

The Penang Municipal Council also runs a free shuttle service with three buses plying an 8km route between the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal and Komtar on the island from 6am to midnight daily using Rapid Penang buses.

For details on the Best timetables and feeder bus timetables, contact Rapid Penang at 04-2381313 or visit its website at www.rapidpg.com.my.

Source: The Star