Are more roads and the LRT the best solutions to Penang’s traffic woes?

THE Penang Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) highway will complement the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway and serve as another backbone and alternative link between both sides of the island. 

State executive councillor for infrastructure Zairil Khir Johari said PIL 1 will also play a critical role in helping with traffic dispersion.

“The new Mutiara LRT alone cannot resolve traffic congestion issues on the island. 

“We need to strike a fair combination of roads and the LRT.

“For example, use of the Rapid Penang stage buses is only at a minimal 5% and our target is to get it to 40% which would be an achievement indeed,” he said.

Zairil said this during a live talk show last night with Penang Forum’s Dr Lim Mah Hui.

The Tanjung Bungah assemblyman also singled out that London (England) and nearby Singapore also offer a combined resource of roads and public transport connectivity.

Lim, meanwhile retorted that building more roads does not disperse traffic but rather adds to the volume and it will be a matter of time when Penang gets congested again.

Lim stressed that they share a similar goal in wanting to disperse the mounting traffic, but the solution must be sustainable and appeasing to the environment.

"Building more roads such as the PIL 1 is not in the right direction. 

The PIL 1 was once known as the Penang Outer Ring Road, which the DAP stalwarts such as Chow Kon Yeow (Penang Chief Minister) and Lim Kit Siang (DAP iconic leader) opposed when they were in the Opposition. Now, it is a different thing altogether."

Lim said that the PIL 1 just like the LRT was proposed more on "vested" interests (of certain parties) rather than evidence-based recommendations.

He cited his reasoning that the PIL 1 was first opposed by the same persons, who are now advocating it in the state government.

As for the LRT with its 22 stations, it is proposed to be aligned from Komtar in George Town to the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas but it has conveniently overlooked the main density areas of Air Itam - Paya Terubong enclave, said Lim.

He stressed that the best and cost-effective option remains the Halcrow report, which recommended improving public bus services and installing trams rather than lavish projects such as the LRT and more highways. - January 25, 2025