Frequently Raised Concerns About the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP)

A major reason for the opposition to the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) stems from various concerns highlighted by opponents to the plan. Penang State Government as well as others have responded to most of the issues raised. In this article, we list out some of the frequently raised concerns, and provide you with the responses with source reference included.

1. PTMP's cost ballooned from RM27 billion to RM46 billion to benefit the appointed Project Delivery Partner, the SRS Consortium!

Fact: Increase due to the addition of the monorail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Light Rail Transit (LRT) at Seberang Perai.
Actually SRS's submitted proposal was estimated at RM27 billion. This was widely reported back in 2015, when SRS won the bid.¹ref

The increase to RM46 billion is due to added components. Most of the added components are to cover the 3 districts on the mainland, as requested by the Seberang Perai Municipal Council.²ref

These components are one monorail (from south Seberang Perai Utara to north Seberang Perai Selatan), one long BRT (from north Seberang Perai Tengah to south Seberang Perai Selatan), and one LRT (from island across the canal to mid Seberang Perai Tengah to north Seberang Perai Tengah).³ref

2. On-ground tram or BRT is cheaper and faster to install than LRT!

- Opponents allege that LRT is not cost-efficient and unsuitable.

Fact: Elevated LRT is safer, more comfortable, faster and does not cost much more than tram or BRT.
LRT does not disrupt the road traffic compared to on-ground tram or BRT that takes up road space. Without sharing road space, the LRT has no risk of colliding with people, vehicles, and building. Such accident is common at places with tram or BRT.⁴ref

To widen road for dedicated lane and to build tram's track and BRT's stations require land acquisition which will cost a lot compared to the LRT. The cost for land acquisition is minimal for elevated LRT.⁵ref If include land acquisition cost, the tram and BRT would not be cheaper than LRT.

3. Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) does not require land acquisition to build tram track. It will be cheaper and faster to install than LRT!

Fact: ART is actually tram with tyres, with all the same limitations of a bus.
Similar to tram and BRT, the ART takes up road space, disrupts road traffic and has the risk of colliding with people, vehicles, and building.⁶ref Here is a comparison for LRT, BRT, tram, and ART:

4. LRT is estimated to lose a lot of money due to expensive operation cost!

Fact: Public transport is a not-for-profit public service, funded by transit-oriented development (TOD) business model.
Public transport is a public service provided by the government for the benefit of the people, not for profit. To achieve economic sustainability, the LRT will be managed through the TOD method that leverages on businesses to cover the public transport's operation cost, similar to Hong Kong.⁷ref

5. Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) will cause catastrophic damages to Penang Hill, Air Itam Dam, Kek Lok Si Temple, surrounding buildings and force precision engineering factories to leave!

Fact: Advanced tunnelling method is proven around the world to be safe.
The impact of tunnelling under strict control is negligible beyond 100 metres. The distance between Penang Hill's funicular train, Air Itam Dam, and Kek Lok Si Temple is 150 metres, 500 metres, and 500 metres away from the PIL1 respectively.

Geotechnical expert with doctorate from Oxford University, Dr Gue See Sew stated: "With proper design and blast control measures in place, vibration and settlement to neighbouring structures can be controlled even at a distance less than 10m, evident from the recently completed Klang Valley MRT Line 1 where tunnelling was done with live traffic on top!"⁸ref

The daily vibration from high-frequency flights and the construction and usage of Bayan Lepas elevated expressway have not affected the production in the factories nearby.⁹ref

References