A new way to tackle congestion

GEORGE TOWN: Public stage bus service provider RapidPenang hopes that its proposed new strategy in commuting can reduce traffic congestion in high density areas by between 20% and 40% during peak hours.

It is expected to be launched within the next two months pending approval from the Land Public Transport Commission, said RapidPenang chief operating officer Mohd Azmi Abdullah (pix).

The new strategy uses the same approach as the “Hub and Spoke” model where smaller feeder buses will gather passengers from various points in one locality hub. From that hub, the passengers would be dropped off at a centralised bus stop.

And from there, a pool of bigger buses will then congregate to pick up the passengers in stages from these designated bus stops before driving to the final interchange, which is the main public bus terminal in Komtar.

Azmi explained that by doing this there would be lower frequencies of all public buses travelling into town during peak hours but there would be a bigger load of passengers aboard the larger RapidPenang buses.

“And if there are no passengers at that juncture, the buses will not ply the route. The main pick up would be before, during and after office hours,” he told theSun.

At the same time, RapidPenang frees up space on congested roads in town by hauling more passengers aboard the larger buses.

It has proven to be effective in other countries, hence the inspiration for RapidPenang to try it out in the state.