Penang opts for costlier elevated LRT system, less social impact
Penang state government has decided to build a RM4.8 billion elevated light rail transit (LRT) system in the state, rather than have a tram system, as part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). This is to avoid associated costs of relocation of utilities, land acquisition and social problems related to construction.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pictured) said the associated costs involving at-grade or street running trams would result in rows of shophouse having to be relocated, which would in turn affect the social fabric of the community.
“While the cost to build an elevated LRT is more expensive than an on-road tram system, but it has less environment and social impact,” he told a press conference here today.
The proposed 22km LRT system will operate between Weld Quay and the Penang International Airport. Under the PTMP, it will also feature a 20km Pan Island Link highway.
* Upcoming projects nearby Bayan Lepas LRT Line *
SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd project manager Szeto Wai Loong estimates that the cost of LRT construction per kilometer is RM220 million, compared with the RM80 million per km for the tram as proposed by Penang Forum, comprising a group of non-governmental organisations. SRS Consortium is the project delivery partner of PTMP.
He said the consortium’s proposal includes the construction of stations and the park-and-ride system, with minimal land acquisition. On the other hand, Penang Forum’s proposal involves at-grade or street running trams and does not include land acquisition.
On July 13, Penang Forum had revealed an alternative transport plan to PTMP, which took cognisance of the Halcrow study on alleviating traffic congestion, commissioned by the state in 2010.
Rebutting Penang Forum’s claims that the RM1.6 billion tram system is cheaper, faster and better, Szeto said the social impact and traffic congestion would be worse due to its on-road infrastructure.
He said Penang Forum relied heavily on the Halcrow study, which clearly stated that acquisition costs were not included.
SRS Consortium is a joint venture among Gamuda Bhd (60% stake), Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd (20%) and Loh Phoy Yen Sdn Bhd (20%).
Meanwhile, Penang government and SRS Consortium will meet with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) next month to expedite a “conditional approval” for the proposed elevated LRT project.
The consortium had targeted July to obtain the conditional approval, but it was delayed due to SPAD’s schedule.
“From the meeting, SPAD might want us to discuss and relook at the design. The process is still ongoing,” said Szeto.
On Aug 4, Gamuda had said the Penang government had extended the consortium’s letter of award till Feb 28, 2017. SRS received the initial letter of award on Aug 12 last year to implement the PTMP, comprising transport components and provide new reclamation sites.
Source: TheEdgeProperty.com.my
Penang’s NGOs are very hard to deal with one.
@Kenny
Agree. Today got news that Penang Forum has sent a letter quietly to Unesco to complaint and now Unesco might revoke Georgetown Heritage status. Really don’t know what is their ultimate motive.
those NGOs really 吃饱没事做…….all rubbish
@MJ
Whoa, if that’s true then they’re really out to sabotage not only the DAP but also the people of Penang ! Cantonese called it: 二五仔 !
@MJ
It is better for Penang to return to BN rule and no such kacau kacau.
Building LRT outskirt of Unesco Heritage area should be fine. Apa lu mau Penang NGO? When traffic jam you complaint. Building LRT also complaint. No build LRT also complaint. Penang NGO please let us know what do you really want?
They just don’t want mainland people flock to island and affect their peaceful life. Status quo best for them.
We need a pro-active and constructive NGOs (assuming there are no political motivation behind).
Not destructive and putting sands into our rice bowls.
Once they crossed that line, the silence majorities need to voice up.
We no need experts to tell us that LRT is the best options…..it is no brainer to object it. It is proven everywhere and especially in tropical country like us.
NGOs, Please have some conscience in pursuit of heritage and environments.
@W
What to do ? When many of these people just love to show off and hold themselve out as messiahs? They are not even “elected” but self-proclaimed to be only !
I agree. Can even get donation from Arab… hahaha..
Why we have to be like second Singapore? try to be yourself and in your own way. don’t be kia su kia su lah…..
@MJ
I would like to comment on this Unesco issue as a neutral party. I think it is something simple and straight forward, but just got blown out of proportion by the media or getting politicised.
I think it is a good thing that Unesco Paris is getting informed of this PTMP, if they do not already know yet. It’s better for them to find out now, and feedback, and we tweak our plans, rather than getting delisted from Unesco after building everything. Right?
I think I have read it in the news that the NGOs are highlighting the risk to state gov (as well as GTWHI). The NGOs might have felt that they are not being taken seriously by the relevant parties, therefore in order to protect everyone’s interest, they highlighted directly to Paris. I do not know, but that is one possible scenario.
To be honest, I personally feel that the change of state gov from BN to current one did not really result in good improvements. Street lights and public amenities are still badly maintained. The state reps are not holding open dialogue sessions with it’s constituents to hear feedback and complains. When I said OPEN, means openly in a public dialogue hearing grouses from constituents. Without this type of transparencies, how do you expect your local reps to 100% fulfill their duties. Please don’t forget, the Rakyat is paying your salaries, you’re suppose to make sure you hear and work for them.
@BillyTheKid
Well.. most Penangites support PTMP. Instead of convincing the Rakyat to oppose the master plan, these NGOs went behind their back and complain to Unesco. I couldn’t believe they would go so far to get what they want.
@BillyTheKid
R u from Penang and dare to say that no good improvement? Seriously no good compare to previous BN?
In a democracy everyone has the right to voice their own opinion. Writing a letter to an organisation is one of them. If there is nothing to hide, let them investigate. Why condemn the whistle blower?
We should stop having double standards- treat the opposition just as you would for any political party.
@TT
My perception from all the news I read is that, the NGOs might have felt that they are not being taken seriously by the relevant parties after protesting, therefore in order to protect everyone’s interest, they highlighted directly to Paris. I do not know, but that is one possible scenario. But I do not see it as back stabbing. There is no back to stab anyway, it’s not like Paris is paying their salaries!!
@penang_lang
I left Penang in 2003 to stay in spore for 7 years and came back in 2010. In Spore, they have MPS (meet the people session) on a fixed weekly schedule for elected reps to hear from the constituents. There is a SYSTEM to record grouses/complaints so that action items given to the elected reps can be openly tracked for status.
A SYSTEMATIC approach is very important to have sustainable improvements. I do not know what is the good that you are referring to, but I know for sure basic public amenities are still as bad as before if not worse. Pot holes on the roads are very common needless to say, road conditions are pathetic. Weeds are everywhere, left unmaintained by the council. Street lights are sure to black-out after heavy rain.
I can understand if it’s mainland where you find lots of undeveloped land. But mind you, I am talking about a 15km radius of highly urbanised Georgetown, so difficult to do a proper job???
The enforcement officers are so busy giving out parking summons to those who did not display parking coupons and clamping here and there, yet traffic jam is still bad. It’s not because we need a grand PTMP, it’s because the enforcement officers are just too busy doing things that don’t matter, and turning a blind eye on those trucks unloading goods along Penang Rd and Weld Quay!!, which are the real cause of traffic jams.
And while all these basic problems cannot be solved, someone is busy “bargaining” for a “cheap” bungalow?? *sigh*.
Anyway penang_lang, please share with us the improvements that you have seen.
@BillyTheKid
That’t the thing. They acted on their own, they never consulted the Rakyat before complaining to Paris. Everybody is surprised.
Why must the state government insist on building the ELEVATED LRT, when a mixture of elevated and at-grade Tram can serve the same purpose and yet significantly cheaper to build and maintain?
@TT
I agree with you that most Penangites support the PTMP. However, we must select the best option in implementing the PMTP, especially in the areas of construction cost and the future operating and maintenance cost of the ‘system’ (be it LRT or tram).
The construction cost can be traded with new reclamation island but
we, ‘the Penangites’ are the one who will be paying for the future operating and maintenance cost.
@gooner
The issue now is : – Why do thing so surreptitiously and make it so sneaky looking after over a certain time in revelation ? Why can’t do thing right under the SUNLIGHT right from the start ? When there’s nothing to hide in the first place ?
While I supported the government’s PTMP, I also tried to listen to the view of Penang Forum and read up their website promoting tram and BRT. However, I posted a genuine question to Penang Forum asking about the feasibility of implementing tram and BRT when it cuts into our existing limited roads, also, unlike LRT, tram and BRT have to follow proper road paths and cannot crossover obstruction and buildings to bring point-to-point connection closer, significantly reducing traveling time, which Penang Forum has not responded to date. So far this reason, I’m throwing my support behind PTMP.
@Macha
Exactly, they are not willing to listen and debate openly. And they call themselves Penang Forum. Funny.
@BillyTheKid
I think u are not living in Penang. Penang is better now than last time. Toilets are clean now compare to last time. Street Lights are also well lit in Penang Island. Unless those having road expansion or new constructions.
The BCF is so half hearted that it could not even design a tram line map for the mainland. And how about this, BCF fancifully states that “”you can get board a tram in Butterworth and alight in Tanjung Tokong, or board a tram at the airport and alight in Raja Uda””.
Pray tell, how long will it take me to travel from Butterworth to Tg. Tokong using this slow slow tram ? How is it different from the bus ?
The teeny tiny half page dedicated to the mainland is made even more pointless, obnoxious, and useless by the gargantuan full color slideshow of trams from around the world. Could the BCF be any more superficial ? That Teeny Tiny half a page dedicated to the mainland out of 60 other full color pages dedicated to the island is a perfect example of how biased, non inclusive and island centric the BCF “Tram Catalog” truly is.If you have taken the time to read the entire BCF document like I have, It talks about congestion charging, It talks about walking and Bicycles, It has about 50 pages of color photos of trams, It has half a page dedicated to the mainland, It has no provisions for future road improvements. It outlines just 2 tram lines covering a tiny minute section of the island yet it calls itself a “Master Plan”, No mention of improving connectivity with the mainland, Basically the BCF is a Tram Catalog. So basically people like hawkers and traders and handymen and people who just have a lot of stuff to carry can go fly a kite if this BCF is implemented. Maybe people should read the entire plan before supporting it.As it stands now, the BCF plan is heavily biased towards the Core Heritage Zone and non inclusive and shuts out people in the north of the island and the mainland.
It is also heavily caters towards men in Suits who travel to work daily with one teeny tiny laptop, so for people like me who travel to the island for weekly shopping with my aged father and come back to the mainland with 2 big ice boxes of food from Macallum Ghaut and Air Itam market, we feel very alienated by BCF’s and your position on these issues.
Please try and tailor your future “Master Plans” so that they are more inclusive for the rest of Penang State and try to cater to a wider demographic then just men and women with tiny laptops going to work, thank you.
@Dan
Toilets are cleaner now? Well, guess so. Same goes for all the toilets along north-south highway. Street lights are well lit? Not true, still very dark along gurney drive. No new constructions there right now. And street light blackout after rain is very rampant. Happens all over the island. Too many unnecessary speed bumps. Overall, very bad comments from friends visiting from overseas. Very embarrassing. Policies and rules are not making sense. Can’t find our state rep, no improvement plans in progress, totally in the dark about the status. What’s being done, who’s doing what, if anything at all, totally no system. *sigh*. I give up!
@BillyTheKid
I welcome speed bump, do u know that without speed bump, last time lots of mat rempit race at long stretch of road. Gurney drive road are well lit bro. I just back from there yesterday. I mean the road near sea side.
@Dan
Would you welcome a solution that stops mat rempits and yet without the bumps that shortens the lifespan of your car absorbers?
@Dan
I walk from Gurney 8 to Silverton yesterday, yes, I think it is very dark.