Chow said the LRT would be the starting point for a better public transport system in the state, which he felt would reduce private car use eventually.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same applies to public transport. The LRT is the beginning. Without the first line, we cannot build the connections needed for a more comprehensive rail system.

“Without the LRT, it’s hard to encourage people to stop using their cars. This (discussion on cutting private vehicle use) is all just theoretical until the first LRT line is ready,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Penang Heritage Trust event here today.

The Penang LRT project was first proposed in the early 2000s, but was delayed for years because of several problems.

These included a lack of federal funding, changes in the state government, and slow approvals from various agencies. The project, which was expected to cost RM2 billion, never moved forward.

Federal agency MRT Corp will take on the first Penang LRT line project, with groundbreaking by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday.

Chow said that once the LRT is running, it could help ease traffic jams and make transport more efficient.

He said the Klang Valley’s LRT system, for example, began from a single line built 30-odd years ago, which has grown into a large rail network.

“For Penang, the LRT is an important start. It will be the backbone of a public transport system that saves time, reduces traffic, and supports the state as it develops,” he said.