Congestion Pricing Has Always Been On The Cards Says Chow

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Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said road pricing and city entry fees are being considered to address traffic congestion in Penang, but their implementation is not imminent. (Bernama pic)
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has always considered congestion pricing to cut down private car use on the island, especially so ahead of the upcoming LRT line’s implementation, says chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Responding to a recent letter on FMT where a transport expert had called for congestion pricing to be implemented before the LRT line begins operations, Chow said the government is considering a combination of measures to wean Penang folk off car use.
The chief minister had, however, previously said the LRT line should be completed before any congestion pricing could be considered.
“I thank him for the comments. When we first started the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), specifically the Halcrow plan, there were plans to improve congestion through road pricing.
“What we need today is a package to resolve traffic issues, not just one measure to settle all, such as the LRT line. The LRT line will not automatically cause people to move from private vehicles to LRT,” he told reporters at an event in Farquhar Street here.
Chow said road pricing and city entry fees were being considered as part of the PTMP to address traffic congestion in Penang, but their implementation is not imminent.
He said the timing must be right, and an efficient public transport system was important to achieve a targeted 60:40 ratio of public to private vehicle use.
Penang Island City Council mayor Rajendran Anthony, who was with Chow, said the council would soon embark on car use curbs in stages, beginning with a two-hour parking limit for cars on council roads.
He said the use of Central Area Transit buses, which are free for all to board in the city area, would be expanded in the near future.
“As the prime minister has said, all these need to be implemented at an appropriate time, not in a rush, but in an orderly manner,” he said.
Last week, the federal government announced that Penang would receive an LRT line worth RM13 billion, set to be completed by Dec 2031, with a cross-channel line to Butterworth. - FMT

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