Penang LRT news: Penangites must take the LRT yeah
Giving up driving and starting walking instead?
I was in Penang two weekends ago and also a few days ago. Frankly, traffic jam in Penang is getting worse. Perhaps we really do need the LRT Penang to help lessen the potential traffic jams which is likjely to get worse in the future. I know many Penangite friends are super excited and looking forward to this LRT project. In fact many property developers have started to use this as a selling point as well. Never mind that their buyers may or may not be using it, as long as they have it, they will be happy. I think the question we should ask ourself is this. Are we ready to change our lifestyle when it comes to public transport.
The estimated cost for this LRT Penang is RM10 billion which includes building an underground interchange to support a cross-channel link in George Town. Source: theedgemalaysia.com
Read about the news about LRT Penang below.
Article in malaymail.com Penang State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the project manager, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp), has already called for a tender to appoint a consultant to conduct research for the project.
He said, “The project is in the research stage and the research is expected to be completed early next year.” He also said, “The state government has met with MRT Corp in various meetings to discuss the project so we are 100 per cent confident that this project is on track to be built as planned.”
The LRT alignment, which was originally Bayan Lepas to Komtar, will now be from Bayan Lepas to Komtar to Tanjung Bungah, Air Itam to Butterworth to Kepala Batas and to Simpang Ampat. Do read here for the full article: Article in malaymail.com
If I am still working in Penang, I may not take the LRT (just me, maybe)
I have taken the public transport in many countries. The usual MRTs or MTRs in many countries and even the newer one in Jakarta which started in 2019 and also Bangkok’s BTS Sky Train. I have also taken the trams in Melbourne and Hong Kong too. What I like to say about public transport is this. We have to change our lifestyle yeah. The timing must follow the timing and it’s usually not right beside our home yeah.
Instead of immediately able to start the car and drive to friend’s home or even to buy groceries, we have to lock the door to our home, walk down / out to the street and walk to the nearest station in order to take the train. This walking distance may be 200m, could be 500m and maybe even as far as 800m which will definitely take around 10 minutes or so. Under the sun or even under the rain, this is not an amazing option. Fortunately there’s umbrella to keep away the sun and rain does not fall every day and every hour.
Many years ago, I asked 10 good friends. Would you walk 400m to the nearest station to take the public transport. Only 1 said, maybe. This 1 friend is the one thinking of retiring soon and will eat vegetarian food daily to save on food cost. All the rest are working professionals and all of them gave different reasons why they would not. Perhaps this has changed since that was many years ago.
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