THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has agreed to the Penang government’s proposal to build a light rail transit line from Komtar in George Town to the airport in Bayan Lepas. 

The agreement was reached during a meeting on Tuesday between Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Transport Minister Anthony Loke and SPAD officials in Putrajaya, reports state government mouthpiece Buletin Mutiara today. 

Chow was quoted as saying the state government could now move forward to build the LRT, which is a component in the larger Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP). 

“In the meeting we stressed that the LRT is more suitable for Penang’s situation, compared to the tram proposed by SPAD,” he said. 

The state will now look into technical issues concerning the site for the LRT’s depot, which was initially proposed to be built on one of the manmade islands in the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project off the southern coast of the main island, he said.

As the construction of the man-made islands has not been approved by the relevant authorities, the LRT depot’s location also cannot be approved. 

The site will now move to a location south of the airport, which would also be the site for the LRT’s final station, Chow said.

The plan will be amended and a report submitted to SPAD in a month’s time. 

Earlier this month, Loke said the LRT might not be the best option for Penang and asked the state government to consider SPAD’s other proposals. 

Civil groups have also criticised the LRT proposal, arguing that trams and a BRT (bus rapid transit) system are better alternatives.

They said the LRT might not get enough ridership to be viable. – September 21, 2018.