The Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) is an under construction transport and infrastructural network projected to serve the cities of George Town and Seberang Perai. First announced in 2015 to address worsening traffic conditions across both cities, the network consists of six rapid transit lines, a tram line, a cable car line, three highways, and one undersea tunnel across the Penang Strait.
Construction of the network began on 2 November 2019 with the Ayer Itam–Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Highway Bypass, and is to be built in several stages until the 2060s. At a projected cost of RM 46 billion (US$ 9.7 billion), the PTMP is the most expensive infrastructural project in Malaysian history.
Background
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.[1] Seberang Perai is Malaysia's second largest city by population.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
In 2011, the Penang Transport Council (PTC) was formed.[5]
History
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
- Public Transport Approach - proposed a transport network that included setting up hubs and park & ride stations, as well as a more comprehensive bus network, a bus rapid transit, trams and light rail transit (LRT).
- Highway-based Strategies - looked into how to improve the roads, the network and associated items that would support and complement the Public Transport Approach.
- Accessibility Report - argued that public transport would need to have accessibility in both urban and rural areas.
- Institutional Reforms - proposed policies and directions that could be led by the state government to implement transport strategies and policies.
In 2013, the Halcrow study was adopted by the Penang state government and a preliminary agreement was signed with Zenith Corporation.[5]
In 2014, the Penang state government set out a request for proposal (RFP).[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[8]
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.[9][10][11]
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.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14][15][8]
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.[3]
Components
Rapid transit lines
Mutiara line
The Mutiara line, formerly the Bayan Lepas line, is a proposed light rapid transit line spanning 29 kilometres (18 mi) line from George Town's city centre with its southern suburbs of Jelutong, Gelugor and Bayan Lepas, with a link towards Seberang Perai across the Penang Strait. The line is projected to contain 22 stations, with it's northern terminus at Penang Sentral and its southern terminus at Silicon Island.
The line was previously known as the Bayan Lepas line, introduced by the Penang state government in 2015 as a primary rail line of the PTMP. The plan envisaged a rapid transit system along George Town's heavily urbanised eastern shorelines in a north-south axis, with an extension towards reclaimed islands south of Batu Maung. It received conditional approval from the Malaysian government in 2019, and construction was scheduled to begin in 2020 amidst overwhelming public support. However, construction was repeatedly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a nationwide political crisis which resulted in a withdrawal of support by successive governments of different political parties.
After the general elections in 2022, the Malaysian government expedited development of the rapid transit line with additional funding, before fully taking over the project from the Penang state government. The line was re-designated and its alignment was substantially redesigned to its present state, which added a cross-strait link from George Town to Seberang Perai. Construction is expected to begin construction in September or October 2024, and is scheduled for opening by 2030.[16]
Ayer Itam line
The Ayer Itam line is a proposed monorail line spanning 12.8 kilometres (8.0 mi) line from George Town's city centre to its western suburbs of Ayer Itam and Paya Terubong.[17] The line, with 13 stations, is to be built after the completion of the Mutiara line.[18] The line's eastern terminus is located at Komtar, while its western terminus is located at Majestic Heights.[19]
As early as 2002, the Penang state government proposed a monorail line from Komtar towards Ayer Itam, although its actual alignment was never formalised.[20][21] The project was ultimately cancelled in 2008.[22] In early-2016, the line was revived under an entirely redesigned alignment, extending further south of Penang Island towards Paya Terubong.[23] The line is scheduled for opening by 2045.[24]
Tanjong Tokong line
The Tanjong Tokong line is a proposed monorail line spanning 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) line from George Town's city centre with its northern suburbs of Pulau Tikus and Tanjong Tokong. The line, with eight stations, is designed with potential extensions towards Tanjong Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.[25] The line's southern terminus is located at Komtar, while its northern terminus is located at Tanjong Tokong.[26]
Along with the Mutiara line, the line may be part of the northern end of Penang's first light rail transit alignment from Bayan Lepas to Tanjong Bungah.[27] The line is scheduled for opening by 2060.[24]
George Town tram line
Gelugor–Butterworth line
Raja Uda–Bukit Mertajam line
Permatang Tinggi–Batu Kawan line
Highways
Pan Island Link
Butterworth–Kulim Expressway Interchange
Juru Interchange
Other extensions
Major roads
North Coastal Paired Road
The North Coastal Paired Road (NCPR) serves as an alternative link between the northern suburbs of Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang.
Ayer Itam–Tun Dr, Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass
Gurney Drive–Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass
Penang Third Link
The Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) will involve several components
- 3 highways named Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1), Pan Island Link 2 (PIL2) and Pan Island Link 2a (PIL2a)[28]
- A Light Rail Transit line between George Town and Bayan Lepas
- Two monorail lines that connect George Town with Air Itam, Paya Terubong and Tanjung Tokong[29][30]
- A tram line limited to within George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site[31]
- Cross-strait cable car line linking Komtar in George Town and Penang Sentral in Butterworth[32]
- Gelugor-Butterworth LRT across the strait[28]
- Raja Uda to Bukit Mertajam monorail line[28]
- Permatang Tinggi to Batu Kawan Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line[28]
- A 7.2 km long undersea tunnel linking Gurney Drive to the Butterworth.[28] It is supposed to begin construction in 2023 at a cost of RM6.3 billion. In July 2020, Chief Minister Chow said that a decision to proceed would only be made after the feasibility study was completed.[7] The project was also at the centre of graft allegations against former Penang CM Lim.[33]
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.[34][35][36] In April 2019, the LRT project was received conditional approval from the federal government. Construction is expected to start in June 2020.[37]
Reactions
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.[38] At the same time some have argued PSR will cause environmental damage.[3] In July 2020, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that discussions for compensating fishermen affected by the PSR were still underway.[39]
At RM 42 billion the total proposed cost the PTMP would make it the most expensive infrastructure project in Malaysia.[3]
Annual ridership for the proposed LRT is projected to reach 42 million trips, when the local population is only around 800,000.[3]