GEORGE TOWN: Penang will be the second state after Kuala Lumpur to implement the bus lane trial project to see its feasibility and cut down on travel time, especially during peak hours, in a bid to improve the level of public transport service.
State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the pilot project in Penang would be implemented in collaboration with the Penang City Council (MBPP) and Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Penang) in parts of Jalan Penang and Jalan Ria from Nov 19.
"The implementation of this bus lane trial project is from the Jalan Ria/Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong junction until Jalan Ria/Jalan Magazine, which is about 200 metres (m); from Jalan Penang/Jalan Magazine/Jalan Datuk Keramat junction until Jalan Penang/Jalan Burma (100m); and from Jalan Penang/Lebuh Chulia until Jalan Penang/Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong (200m).
"The trial run will be for six months from Nov 19 to May 19, 2025, and will be tried out daily, including on public holidays. The operating hours are from 6.30am to 9am and 4.30pm to 8pm," he told a media conference at Komtar on Monday (Nov 11).
He said the only vehicles allowed to use the bus lanes are public buses, tour buses, taxis and emergency vehicles.
Zairil expects this initiative to reduce travel time during peak hours based on the success of its implementation in Kuala Lumpur, where travel time was reduced by 10-15 minutes.
He said traffic congestion in Penang has had a big impact on the efficiency of Rapid Penang's bus services, with buses arriving late at every stop and terminal.
He said MBPP will put up signage along the bus lanes involved in the trial run, with safety cones also placed along the bus lanes during operational hours in the morning and evening.
Zairil said that during the initial stages of the trial run, MBPP enforcement personnel, in collaboration with the police and the Road Transport Department (JPJ), will monitor the sites to ensure smooth traffic flow along the bus lanes. - Bernama
