PENANG TRAFFIC SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT ?
On 25th March 2013, Penang Chief Minister was launch the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) which the plan is converged both island and Seberang Perai. The plan is divided into three phases in its implementation period which is the short term (from current to 2015); medium term (from 2015 to 2020) and the long term (2020 to 2030).
This comprehensive plan is coverage all scopes where its strategies start from a basic issues till a holistic suggestion such as improving pedestrian and cycling lanes, upgrading of existing highway networks, upgrading ferry services, works on the Georgetown Outer Bypass, as well as building new highways, introducing water taxis and building a third sea crossing under-seabed tunnel. Overall, this integrated PTMP is consists of six volumes which are:
a)Highway Improvement Plan
b)Public Transport Improvement Plan
c)Accessibility Improvement Plan
d)Institutional Plan
e)Water Transport Study
e)The Recommended Transport Master Plan Strategy
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| Figure 1.0 is the PTMP's core strategy concept plan. Source: YB Chow Kon Yeow; Moving People Not Cars 2010; Penang State Local Government and Traffic Management. |
The PTMP’s effort of seeking effective and efficient
transportation in Penang from government is mainly due to the rising problems
of the traffic congestion issue. Undeniably, traffic jams are nothing surprised
any more and it seems inseparable when we mention about the urban development.
It is so ironic to say that the traffic jams are the result of the vibrant and
developing cities. Without a culturally vibrant and economically advancing
city, the phenomena of traffic congestion just does not happen. Here, I wouldn't discuss further on the implication of PTMP, but I will seek traffic congestion solution by discuss about the urban planning design itself.
As a planner, we should not quietly obey with this
natural character of city development. I think there must be a way of
developing a city while avoiding the haunting issue of traffic congestion. Look
at the current urban design, the sprawled city planning of Penang indirectly
encouraging the disconnecting between different zones. There is long distance
between the residential area, supporting public facilities and work
destination, and thus eventually promoting the forming of automobile centered
culture.
To ensure good quality of life in the new suburban
design, residential areas are located far away from the not-in-favour
commercial and industrial area that believed to degrades the living standard of
residents. Commercial zone often causes the densely circulation flow of people
and traffic while industrial zone has the risk of environmental pollution in
aspect of noise, air and hygiene. The peaceful and serene lifestyle aim has
encourages the separation of residential area from the others. In another view,
the needs of transport over longer distance have been promoted without offering
a sufficient public transportation services. In the designed master plans, the
suburban Penang residents are assumed to be capable of having their own car for
travelling.
Perhaps the way the planning had been done is more
suitable to the old times whereas the condition is of smaller population and
lesser private transportation users. In my opinion, I don’t think that it can
be really sustain the exponentially growth in volume of population either in
urban or suburban. Traffic congestion is the best proof for it.
According to the Penang
State Local Government and Traffic Management, they are around 80,000 public riders
per day and the numbers projected to be increase around 50% by year 2020.
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| Figure 2.0 showed the numbers of ridership from year 2007 to year 2010. Source: YB Chow Kon Yeow; Moving People Not Cars 2010; Penang State Local Government and Traffic Management. |
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| Figure 3.0 showed the future forecast on the rideship numbers by year 2020. Source: YB Chow Kon Yeow; Moving People Not Cars 2010; Penang State Local Government and Traffic Management. |
The priority of such
infrastructures should be higher than the efforts of seeking a more effective
road building and the future third sea crossing. In long term, such investment
in the public infrastructure will prove to us by how much worth it is and its
return in aspects of financial and also environmental costs. We should promotes
the environmental friendly travelling in short to long distance, in form of
walking, cycling, car pooling, especially public transport such as public bus
and train service.
Planners are responsible to play their role in
designing and planning the whole master plan in a way of encouraging great
access to basic amenities and infrastructures. I believe that the design
without the needs of long distance travel and naturally promotion of cycling
and walking could enhance the real quality of people life, perhaps their
health. Live, work and play altogether within the small zone while destination
for acquiring basic needs could be reachable in foot distance. I would not deny the
thoughts that the smaller but denser self sustaining ‘villages’ design might be
the direction of solving all these issues by enabling the ‘villagers’ to reach
their basic needs in the one mile radius.
References:
1. YB Chow Kon Yeow; Moving People Not Cars 2010; Penang State Local Government and TrafficManagement.
2.http://ptc.penang.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100%3Apenang-transport-master-plan&lang=en
3. http://www.pemandu.gov.my/gtp/Media_Coverage-@-Penang_launches_transport_masterplan.aspx
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