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]

Criticisms

It was argued that rather than focusing on being a transport plan, it was actually cover for a reclamation scheme consisting of three islands to the south of Penang totalling 1,820 ha. called the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. Instead of using an open tender, a Request for Proposal was used instead. [26] At the same time some have argued PSR will cause environmental damage. [6] In July 2020, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that discussions for compensating fishermen affected by the PSR were still underway. [27]

At RM 42 billion the total proposed cost the PTMP would make it the most expensive infrastructure project in Malaysia. [6]

Annual ridership for the proposed LRT is projected to reach 42 million trips, when the local population is only around 800,000. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang International Airport</span> Airport serving Penang, Malaysia

Penang International Airport is an airport in northern West Malaysia. The airport is located near Bayan Lepas at the southeastern tip of Penang Island, 16 km (9.9 mi) south of the city centre. The airport is the third-busiest airport in Malaysia in terms of passenger traffic and the second-busiest in terms of cargo tonnage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lim Guan Eng</span> Malaysian politician

Lim Guan Eng is a Malaysian politician and accountant from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bagan, Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Air Putih since March 2008 and 5th National Chairman of DAP since March 2022. He served as the Minister of Finance in the PH administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad from May 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020, 4th Chief Minister of Penang from March 2008 to May 2018, MP for Kota Melaka from August 1986 to November 1999 and 4th Secretary-General of DAP from September 2004 to March 2022.

Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) (English: Malaysian Infrastructure Limited) is a 100% government-owned company which was set up by Ministry of Finance (Malaysia) as a corporate body established under the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act 1957 to own the assets of multi-modal public transport operator in Malaysia, under the government's move to restructure the city's public transport system. It is one of the largest public-transport companies in Malaysia other than Konsortium Transnasional Berhad. As a government-owned company since 1998, it operates stage bus and light metro services via several wholly owned subsidiaries.

Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) is a planned expressway in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. If constructed, it will connect Gelugor in the south, near Penang Bridge to Tanjung Bungah in the north. After a mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, this project, together with Penang Monorail has been postponed indefinitely.

Gamuda Berhad is an engineering, property and infrastructure company based in Malaysia. It is one of the largest Malaysian infrastructure companies and has undertaken various projects, both locally and overseas, like the construction of Klang Valley MRT lines, highways, airport runways, railways, tunnels, water treatment plants, dams, infrastructure concessions and the development of new townships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanjung Tokong</span> Suburb of George Town in Northeast Penang Island, Penang, Malaysia

Tanjung Tokong is a suburb of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. It is located along the northeastern coast of Penang Island, next to Pulau Tikus and 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the city centre. Over the recent decades, the former fishing village has been transformed into an upper class residential suburb of George Town, with high-rises such as Straits Quay lining the coast.

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

Rail transport in Malaysia consists of heavy rail, light rapid transit (LRT), mass rapid transit (MRT), monorails, airport rail links and a funicular railway line. Heavy rail is mostly used for intercity services and freight transport as well as some urban public transport, while rapid transit rails are used for intracity urban public transport in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley region. There are two airport rail link systems linking Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. The longest monorail line in the country is also used for public transport in Kuala Lumpur, while the only funicular railway line is available in Penang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayan Baru</span> Neighbourhood in Southwest Penang Island, Penang, Malaysia

Bayan Baru is a town in the Malaysian state of Penang. It is located within the Southwest Penang Island District, adjacent to the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapid Penang</span> Transit bus services in Greater Penang, Malaysia

Rapid Penang is a public bus brand in the State of Penang, Malaysia. Formed as a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia in 2007, to date it is the main public transport operator within Penang; its bus network serves commuters within Greater Penang, including the neighbouring towns in Kedah and Perak.

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

The State of Penang in Malaysia, home to the country's second largest city as well as part of Malaysia's second most populous conurbation, has a relatively well-developed transport infrastructure. The city-state is well-connected by land, air and sea; the Penang International Airport is one of Malaysia's busiest, while the Port of Penang is the main harbour and transshipment hub within northern Malaysia. The North–South Expressway, the main highway along western Peninsular Malaysia, runs through Penang, while the two geographically separate halves of the state are now linked by two bridges and a ferry service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South-West District (Penang)</span> District of Malaysia in Penang

The South-West District is a district within the Malaysian state of Penang. The district covers the southwestern half of Penang Island and borders the North-East to the north-east. It has an area of 175 km2 (68 sq mi) and a population of 197,131 as of 2010. Balik Pulau is the district's administrative centre, while Bayan Lepas is the largest town within the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kajang line</span> Railway line in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

The MRT Kajang line (KGL), previously known as the Sungai Buloh–Kajang line (SBK), is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line servicing the Klang Valley, Malaysia. It is the second fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley region after the LRT Kelana Jaya Line. Owned by MRT Corp and operated as part of the RapidKL system by Rapid Rail, it forms part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System. The line is numbered 9 and coloured green on official transit maps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit</span>

The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project is a planned three-line mass rapid transit (MRT) system in the Klang Valley, an urban conurbation in Malaysia which includes the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The MRT lines, when completed, would be operated as components of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zairil Khir Johari</span> Malaysian politician

Zairil Khir Johari is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Penang State Executive Council (EXCO) in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) state administration under Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tanjong Bunga since May 2018. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bukit Bendera from May 2013 to May 2018. He is a member of the Democratic Action Party, a component party of the PH coalition. In DAP, he served as the Assistant National Publicity Secretary from September 2013 to March 2022, State Vice Chairman of Penang since December 2013 and Parliamentary Spokesperson of Education, Science and Technology. He is the son of Khir Johari, former federal minister and prominent politician from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayan Lepas LRT line</span> Proposed Malaysian rail transit line

The Bayan Lepas LRT line is a proposed light rapid transit (LRT) line in the Malaysian state of Penang. Conceived by the Penang state government in the 2000s as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), the proposed 22 km (14 mi) line within the city of George Town was envisioned to link the city centre with the industrial town of Bayan Lepas to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shah Alam line</span> Railway line in Malaysia

The LRT Shah Alam Line or LRT 3, previously known as the LRT Bandar Utama–Klang Line, LRT Bandar Utama-Johan Setia Line or simply LRT Johan Setia Line, is a medium-capacity light rapid transit (LRT) line which will be serving the Shah Alam and Klang regions on the western side of the Klang Valley, Malaysia. It will be the third LRT line, and the fourth fully automated and driverless rail system in the Klang Valley region. The line will be operated as part of the RapidKL system by Rapid Rail, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia. It was announced by Prasarana Malaysia on 24 April 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taman Perindustrian Puchong LRT station</span> Transit station in Puchong, Malaysia

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gurney Wharf</span>

Gurney Bay is a planned seafront park, with land for this purpose currently being reclaimed off Gurney Drive in George Town, Penang. Intended as a "new iconic waterfront destination for Penang", Phase 1 of Gurney Wharf is scheduled for completion by 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Penang state election</span> 14th state election of Penang, held on 9 May 2018

The 14th Penang election was held on 9 May 2018 to elect the State Assemblymen of the 14th Penang State Legislative Assembly, the legislature of the Malaysian state of Penang. The legislature had been dissolved on 9 April by the state's Governor, Abdul Rahman Abbas, on the advice of the then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who also led the state's ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park</span> Park in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

The Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park, also colloquially known as the Sia Boey Park, is an urban archaeology park in the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Located beside the Prangin Road, the Sia Boey Urban Archaeological Park was opened in 2019 as the first Urban Archaeological Park in Malaysia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Penang transportation by the numbers". Penang Monthly. 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  2. 1 2 rashid, izyani mastura bt. abdul. "TRANSPORT MASTER PLAN". pgmasterplan.penang.gov.my. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mega projects in Penang to go ahead | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  4. ↑ "Massive projects in place to alleviate urbanisation in Penang". 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  5. ↑ "Population Distribution by Local Authority Areas and Mukims, 2010 (page 1 & 8)" (PDF). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 hermes (2019-01-02). "Concerns over DAP's $15b transport plan for Penang". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  7. ↑ "Penang2030" (PDF).
  8. 1 2 3 "PTMP TIMELINE – Penang Master Plan" . Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  9. ↑ Mok, Opalyn. "So what exactly is the Penang Transport Master Plan and how is it being funded? | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  10. 1 2 Wednesday, 15 Jul 2020 10:34 PM MYT. "Penang govt sets up special purpose vehicle for Penang Transport Master Plan | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  11. ↑ "Gamuda made PDP for Penang Transport Master Plan". The Edge Markets. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  12. ↑ Wednesday, 01 Jul 2020 05:51 PM MYT. "CM: Penang Transport Master Plan's financial architecture plan expected in a month | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  13. ↑ "Gamuda subsidiary inks agreement for Penang transport master plan | The Star". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  14. ↑ Nambiar, Predeep (2020-07-01). "Penang may issue own bonds to kick-start 3-islands project". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  15. ↑ "Penang govt has no power to issue bonds for mega project | New Straits Times". NST Online. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "What Is The Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) All About? | PropertyGuru Malaysia". PropertyGuru Malaysia. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  17. ↑ "Keeping folk in the know - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  18. ↑ Loh, Arnold. "More rail access for Penang - Nation | The Star Online" . Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "Trams making comeback under RM27bil Penang plan".
  20. ↑ "Penang to ease island's transport woes". 17 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Mok, Opalyn. "Penang govt yet to decide whether to proceed with undersea tunnel project, says exco | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  22. ↑ "Penang submits PTMP plan to SPAD". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  23. ↑ "Penang eyeing July approval for LRT; project to begin 2017". 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  24. ↑ "Penang master transport plan partner gets six-month extension". 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  25. ↑ "Penang LRT project to begin next year | New Straits Times". 16 April 2019.
  26. ↑ "Penang Transport Master Plan a Trojan horse | New Straits Times". NST Online. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  27. ↑ "PSR: Penang govt still discussing package for fishermen". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2020-07-16.

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