GEORGE TOWN – If Penangites are serious about resolving the ongoing traffic issues plaguing the island, then they have no choice but to embrace the Penang Transport Master Plan as its solution.
Speaking to The Vibes, Infrastructure and Transport exco Zairil Khir Johari explained that the master plan has been chiefly designed to alleviate the congestions once and for all.
“Currently only the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway represents the backbone of a traffic dispersal system. It is unfortunately overwhelmed as traffic continues to pile up, given the recent struggles during the peak holiday break,” he said.
The Tg Bunga rep added that a more robust public transportation system will not solve the issue, pointing out that Rapid Penang provides complimentary shuttle service in the city area and the suburbs, but the roads remain jammed.
The island needs at least one more highway to serve as a backbone, which is the Pan Island Link 1 (PIL1) to link Gurney Drive to the expressway.
“It will free up the space and roads. Although there might be land acquisitions along the way, it is understandable as the bigger picture is a better traffic dispersal system.”
Zairil added that another interlink from Jalan Tengah in Bayar Baru to the expressway can also facilitate better traffic flow, especially during rush hour.
The Penang Island City Council secretary Datuk A. Rajendran had earlier disclosed that the council has improved many walkways in George Town to permit more pedestrians.
Elaborating on Rajendran’s announcement, the exco said George Town will also add more lanes for stage buses, motorcycles and cyclists on top of the walkways.
If PIL1 of the master plan is implemented and supported, Zairil said he can consider turning more stretches of the Unesco World Heritage Site in George Town exclusively for pedestrians, seeing that the traffic flow problem would be resolved.
The DAP leader voiced his hope that the plan’s detractors can offer constructive criticisms as both the government and the civil societies have the same interest in mind – the best for Penang.
Earlier, he oversaw the RM562,800 state’s cash incentive handouts to 1,523 cab drivers and 352 school bus operators.
The cash is part of Penang’s pledge to help public transport operators who have been disrupted by ride sharing services as well as a drop in customer demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The state has allotted RM1.149 million this year to some 2,000 cab drivers and 500 school bus operators.
Since 2013 until this year, the administration has disbursed up to RM15.48 million in incentives to cab drivers and school bus operators. – The Vibes, June 19, 2022
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