The Penang State Exco has set up a Penang Transport Council, whose motto is “moving people, not cars”. The biggest and most formidable challenge for the Council, however, is how it responds to any attempt to revive the highly controversial Penang Outer Ring Road (Porr) project.
The formation of the council, chaired by state exco member Chow Kon Yeow, is a step in the right direction. The Council’s task is to tackle transport problems especially trying to get the public to move away from “over-dependence on private transport to a more economically and ecologically sustainable public transport system. The system will be people-centric and part of the council’s task is also to increase public awareness, participation in and acceptance of such a system.”
The council is made up of “state and city council members, civil servants, university professors, professionals, stakeholders, and members of the public with interest in and knowledge of transport issues”.
The council has embarked on a pilot project to de-congest the busy Pulau Tikus area. But the biggest challenge for the council will come in its response to any plan to revive Porr. The latest edition of The Edge carried a report that Porr could be on the table again.
The paper quoted sources as saying that a private company Daya Aliran Inovasi Sdn Bhd (shareholders Ahmad Ismail and Nordin Chin), with the blessings of the Economic Planning Unit, has submitted a proposal to the Penang government to undertake the project.
On 8 September, Bernama reported that the Penang government is still waiting for feedback from the federal government on the project. Guan Eng reportedly said the state government had sent a few letters to the federal government and the EPU but had yet to receive any response.
Now, Porr would be totally against the vision of the Penang Transport Council to get the public to move away from an “over-dependence on private transport to a more economically and ecologically sustainable public transport system”.
The Penang state government has to state categorically what its positions on Porr and sustainable transport are. It is difficult to see how the two can be reconciled. After all, how can you “reduce use of private cars” if you are building more highways and bridges for private vehicles?
When Porr was first mooted under the BN administration, it received stiff opposition from residents groups, civil society groups, and significant segments of the public. Because of this and other financial constraints, the state government and the company quietly shelved the project eventually.
Now there are rumblings about Porr again. Is there any difference between the BN and Pakatan when it comes to this project? Those pushing for Porr are not thinking about the long-term future of Penang as a sustainable place.
The Penang Transport Council has the following plans. These are commendable, but if Porr returns then that could effectively – and sadly – nullify these noble intentions:
Short-term
- Inform public of objectives and plans, solicit input and feedback. Involve mass and alternative media
- Decongest traffic and enforce rules against illegal parking and traffic blockage
- Improve public and private car parks
- Work with Rapid, bas kilang, bas sekolah to improve bus services
- Start Master Plan process going
Medium Term
- Build bicycle lanes and improve pedestrian walkways and disable friendly paths
- Introduce multiple feeder systems to main road arteries – bicycles, smaller buses, trishaws etc
- Improve taxi services
- As bus service improves, introduce mechanisms to reduce use of private cars such as peak hours fees, area road pricing, incentives for car pooling, disincentives for single occupant cars during peak hours etc.
- Improve and extend ferry service and water taxis
- Review all mega-projects
Long Term
- Implementation of Master Plan for whole state
- Integration of different transport modes – buses, cars, trams, ferries, rail – one ticket system
- Continuous public education programs
- Park and ride points, e.g. PISA, Jelutong Expressway etc.
Related posts:
I suggest Penang government to launch bond/funds for PORR instead of relying on private money from UMNO warlord.
I’m willing to invest my money in if PORR-bond is mananged by professionals.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Jadilah budak baik. Jangan hina orang guna Bahasa Melayu itu cacat Inggeris.
Oklah, saya pun hormat tuan punya blog ini dan kembali ke topik asal.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ok anil kali terakhir saya nak tambah,
hello nkkhoo,
bukankah baik jika perbincangan di blog anil ini wujud pelbagai bahasa?
Malaysia Truly Asia bagus tak?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sorry, Anil.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] Article: Penang Transport Council’s biggest test could be PORR (Anil Netto) – The Penang State Exco has set up a Penang Transport Council, whose motto is [...]
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
instead of building the PORR as another tolled highway,
would it feasible to transform it into BRT (bus rapid transit)?
the infrastructure is much easier to maintain and upgrade in future.
only public transports (and private buses) are allowed to run on it (or only open to public during non-peak hour)
now who will say that our public transports are slow like snail
since the main objective is to moving people, it is better to ensure the “smooth” experience of the mass transportation vehicles than those private cars.
this will act like positive reinforcement to people to choice public transport for daily travel.
funding wise, if the penang government could come up with workable economics model on this project and introduce state-backed infrastructure bond at 5% to the public, penangites should warmly welcome it
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I live in tg bunga, 2nd day of Hari Raya (21September) i took at bus 104 (Rapid Penang)
to Komtar, i had to wait 45 minutesfor it. But schedule says 30mins.
Again, busses in Penang cannot meet to the time planned/schedule.
Why? Buses got to manouvre in between the traffics.
The “surface subway” modelled Bogota, looks nice but we have to be practical in cost, land acquisition in Penang which will cost bomb-shell & with limited land in Penang versusu cost for Monorail.
Maybe :-
1. certain routes can be implemented like Bogota devoted one lane for bus,
2. certain routes highways – tollfree,
3. certain routes monorail,
4. certain routes tram,
etc to adjust to the road structures in Penang.
Its never in Penang for public tranport like “one medicine, cures all sickness”.
Many DO NOT realise why PORR is important.
The only thing struck in their minds is umno link.
What are its advantages for people & residence
in tg bungah to bt fghi?
Its cuts time travel to SouthWest and especially bayan lepas international airport, penang bridge, sg nibong buss station and coming up penang second link.
For Who? Tourism and us the local and also in cases of emergencies (ambulance) / old tg bungah road collapsed.
Has anyone thought is this old road collapsed? How people going to travel? Look at the condition of the Balik Pulau road to Teluk Bahang?
PORR should accomodate the influx of cars from Second Link when both ready especially the route to Tg. Bunga>bt fghi.
Its easy for people to comment, CM should do this way, that way for Penang transport but none here even thought of at least 5years to ease traffice to
tg bungah to bt fghi.
Penangites can propose heaven and sky here, talk so much here, remember the bottom line is Federal belongs to Barisan Nasional.
We should talk less and make do the best, until maybe 2012 or 2017 PR rules Federal, maybe more terms to wait, we dont know.
Be pratical and rational.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Agree with the statement made by Karen. YES to PORR!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0