Transport consultant Rosli Khan said the “low to medium capacity” system, which the state government and MRT Corp are exploring, would still incur considerable costs especially for foundational infrastructure.
“Starting small is economically unfeasible, as the costs of land acquisition, piling works, columns, beams, rails, building 20 stations, and other engineering works would remain substantial regardless of the train size,” he told FMT.
Last week, state infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari acknowledged that a high-capacity LRT system, like the ones used in the Klang Valley, was not suitable for Penang.
Zairil said the state will instead opt for a scalable system that can start with two-carriage trains and be expanded if demand rises.
The executive councillor said the transport ministry’s procurement board would determine the LRT system to be adopted.
Rosli said Zairil’s statement indirectly admits that Penang was expecting low overall demand for the proposed transit system, rendering investment in the Mutiara Line, expected to be in the region of RM8 billion, unjustifiable.
He said the state should instead be looking to serve the “significantly higher” demand along the Seberang Perai-Bayan Lepas corridor, which is currently linked by the Penang’s first bridge.
Wan Agyl Wan Hassan took a different view, saying the proposal would minimise initial capital expenditure while retaining the flexibility to accommodate future growth.
However, the former head of policy and planning at the now-disbanded land public transport commission stressed the importance of ensuring that the Mutiara Line’s passenger projections are accurate.
“Accurate demand projections coupled with strategic land use planning can aid in designing an effective transportation system in the state,” he said.
Experts divided on ART in Penang
The two transport consultants were also divided on whether Penang should opt for the more budget-friendly autonomous rapid transit (ART) system instead.
Rosli supports the idea, saying the ART would require less capital investment and can be up and running within a shorter period of time.
He said the narrow lanes of George Town may pose some challenges, and called for the system to be first introduced along the Seberang Perai-Bayan Lepas route.
Wan Agyl, on the other hand, said the ART would require more frequent maintenance compared to the LRT. He also said the ART has yet to prove its reliability in cities with a similar topography and population density to Penang.
“While cheaper solutions are appealing, the focus should be on the project’s effectiveness, feasibility, and viability,” he said.
The 29km Mutiara Line will comprise 20 stations, including interchange stations at Komtar and Penang Sentral. Work is expected to start later this year.