Light Rail Transit system

[jeremy1897]

不經牌坊?不是開玩笑麻?
那個官方網站點閱率才147....而且其中3個是我來的.

[hkth]

Originally Posted by jeremy1897

不經牌坊?不是開玩笑麻?
那個官方網站點閱率才147....而且其中3個是我來的.

問題是牌坊是世界文化遺產的一部份, 如果在那裏興建輕軌的話, UNESCO絕對有權取消澳門的世界文化遺產的地位, 這肯定會對澳門的旅遊業造成打擊的.

[ggaaxx]

If it connects to most casinos, boarders, and terminals, why not!?

[Sen]

what trains are they going to use? also is it gonna be monorail?

[SeeMacau]

Originally Posted by Sen

what trains are they going to use? also is it gonna be monorail?

i dont think they will use the monorail, from the video i watched before it looks like the subway train from taipei

[SeeMacau]

Originally Posted by ggaaxx

If it connects to most casinos, boarders, and terminals, why not!?

its going to connect to a number of casinos in macau !!

[ggaaxx]

74% of respondents in a survey supports building a light rail system for Macau, while a refined LRT plan will be announced on Friday, according to government sources.

The Office for the Development of Infrastructure (GDI) had designated a higher education institution to conduct a questionnaire survey earlier this year. A total of 1,508 questionnaires were classified valid, and 74% of which expressed support to build an LRT system in Macau.

Meanwhile, 70% of respondents deemed acceptable to set up a station within walking distance of 15 minutes, and over 60% deemed that Macau’s traffic pressure will increase in the years to come, and encouraging the population and visitors to use public transport will help to relieve the pressure.

The respondents are also known to have paid concerns on the coverage of the lines, the distribution of stations, landscape, construction time and cost.

On the other hand, sources also told broadcaster TDM and Macao Daily News that the refined proposal will withdraw earlier plan to introduce the LRT line at Avenida da Praia Grande, which could mean cutting of banyan trees aged over 100 years old.

Instead, the route will be diverted to the nearby Avenida do Doutor Mário Soares, in front of the former law courts building.

And since a travelator system will also be introduced to relieve pedestrian congestion in busy areas, the total number of stations will be reduced from 26 to 23, so as to increase the overall operation efficiency of the system.

The Macao Daily News also further reported that officials will be present at the Legislative Assembly’s First Standing Committee meeting on Friday (13 July) morning, to introduce the construction and funding matters to legislators. The proposal will then be published after the presentation.


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[ggaaxx]

The refined plan for Macau’s potential light rail transit system was announced, with minor changes from the previous.

The first phase of the project will install tracks measuring 20km long, with 23 stations.

The overall investments will be estimated to be MOP4.2 billion (based on 2006 prices), which will be fully assumed by the Government.

The system is expected to be in operation by the end of 2011.

A 45-day consultation period has begun, and the authorities expect to launch an international tender for the project in 2008.

According to the plan, the first phase of the system will cover the Portas do Cerco to Taipa via Sai Van Bridge, and branches will then be extended to Cotai, the airport and the new maritime terminal in Pac On.

The system will be in service 19 hours a day, with trains every three minutes at peak times.

The maximum passenger capacity will be 8,000 in each direction per hour, if four carriages were in operation.

The service coverage of an LRT station maintains at 300 to 500m, which the Government claims that it will be able to cover 40% of the population within walking distance.

For neighbourhoods not covered by the network, interchange buses will be available.

Meanwhile, the Government will continue to study the second and third phase of the system, including the feasibility to introduce the tracks into the old neighbourhoods on the Macau Peninsula.

Lao Si Io (劉仕堯), Secretary for Transport and Public Works, emphasised that controls will be exercised to avoid overspending of the project.

The project will be tendered under design-and-build model, and international consultants will be invited to draft tender documents for the Macau Government, he said, which will take account inflation factors.

The Office for the Development of Infrastructure (GDI) said that the Government inclines to make an one-off investment to the project, by paying about MOP1 billion each year for four years of construction.

GDI expressed confidence that the Government has the financial capacity to assume the cost.

However, Lao Si Io did not state clearly how many jobs the project will create for Macau, only saying that the project has high technical requirements, and should not create great pressures to Macau’s construction market.

On the other hand, legislators expressed concerns that the first phase of the system does not cover the old neighbourhoods.

Kwan Tsui Hang (關翠杏), Chairwoman of the First Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly, said after a briefing to legislators that the authorities should listen more to the opinions of the residents on the plan, including the design of stations.

She expressed hopes that the system can be extended into the north west and central Macau, so that their transport needs can be fulfilled.

José Chui (崔世平) agreed with the plan, pointing out that the system will promote economic diversification of Macau, as the casinos can now provide shuttle bus services to customers without having them to use public transport.

Ng Kuok Cheong (吳國昌) hoped that the first phase of the system can be extended into the north west, where a series of public housing estates will be completed also in four years time. Residents there may complain that the Government is not far-reaching enough in planning the system if there is no LRT station available to them.

He also urged the Government to estimate more seriously the cost of the project, casting doubts that whether it really would cost MOP4.2 billion, as appointing consultants also needs money, too.

Kou Hoi In (高開賢) said that the system only pays attention to the tourism and gaming sector, and neglecting the old neighbourhoods. He wants the Government to think more about the cost of investments, and the transport expenses of the population.

Iong Veng Ian (容永恩) also expressed concerns about the funding of the system, while reminded the Government should first encourage the population to use more public transports before exercising controls to car ownerships.

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[Portugues de Macau]

Light rail system the public transport solution: government


Saturday, 14 July 2007
by Sara Farr

The light rail system will be the solution to Macau's traffic chaos and poor public transport the government proposed yeaterday.
During a presentation of the “Solution for the Light Rail System,” director of the Office for Infrastructure Development, Antonio Castanheira Lourenço, said that the light rail would complement existing public transport.
Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Lau Si Io, said that the light rail system would be the “most effective, fast and environmental friendly” way to get around in Macau, considering the rising number of residents as well as tourists each year.
The system will complement both taxis and buses in the city, reducing the number of bus users and encourage more residents to use public transport rather than private, Mr Castanheira Lourenço said. The first phase of the light rail system will have a 20 kilometres route with 23 stops. This initial phase will cost the government 4.2 billion patacas and is expected to be completed and ready to use by 2011, according to the Office for Infrastructure Development.
The solution presented yesterday will go on exibition for 45 days starting yesterday, during which the public are invited to comment.
if all goes according to the office's expectations works for the light rail system are planned to start as early as mid next year.
The preliminary study into the light rail system started in 2003, and during the past four years there were three revisions made after public consultation.
Mr Castanheira Lourenço said he thought the latest proposal was the “most pragmatic and viable” and should meet Macau's needs.
The first phase of the light rail system route will start at Macau's northern district, running through the east side along the reservoir, past the city centre and on to the Sai Van bridge to Taipa. From Taipa it will link passengers directly to the Cotai Strip and then passes the Lotus Flower bridge before ending at the Macau International Airport.
During preliminary studies the Office for Infrastructure Development focused on the main entry and exit points of Macau, including the border gates, the airport and the harbour terminal. But it also took into account residents needs, since it is a transport system designed for locals and not exclusively for tourists, Mr Castanheira Lourenço added.
The light rail system will operate for 19 hours a day, with just three minute intervals between each train during peak hour and a three to six minute waiting time during off peak hours.
According to the presentation, it is expected that the trains will carry about 8,000 people per hour in each direction.
Mr Castanheira Lourenço said that the first phase is set to cater to about 40 per cent of the population, while the whole system, for which plans have not yet be drawn, once complete, would cover about 80 per cent of the entire population.
The Office for Infrastructure Development conducted a survey that was sent to 10,000 people, but only 1,500 responses were deemed valid. Of these, 74 per cent said they supported the building of the light rail system, while 60 per cent said that they thought Macau's traffic pressure would increase in the years to come. Encouraging residents and tourists to use public transport will help relieve the pressure, the respondents said.
During the presentation a journalist questioned if the light rail train line at Avenida da Praia Grande, would require cutting down banyan trees that are over 100 years old. A representative from the Office for Infrastructure Development, Francisco Chau, said the trees will not have to go and the visual impact will be minimal.
“The trees [along Avenida da Praia Grande] will block the view from the government headquarters to the train,” Mr Chau said, adding that “to the naked eye you won't be able to see the rail system.”
The presentation also compared the rail system with other transportation systems such as an underground and a monorail. The evaluation concluded the light rail was the best fit for Macau with simpler and faster construction, lower costs building and operation cost and less disruption to traffic and public life.
Officials also presented their construction and funding questions to legislators yesterday morning at the Legislative Assembly's First Standing Committee meeting.
The Government is set to continue to study the possibility of developing a new route in the inner part of the Macau and Taipa in the rail systems second phase.

in http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/

[ChauTauVillager2]

Govt should just do it !!!!
There may be a danger of not doing anything controversial, like in HK, leading to govt paralysis. They should have a vision and do it (bit like Singapore right now with F1, casino's etc.). Don't want it like Bangkok/Thailand, which took years to build a Mass Transit system !!
TRAFFIC IS BAD ENOUGH. WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE IN 4 YEARS ???

[ggaaxx]

The Macau Government will begin the consultation process immediately after the first phase of the light rail transit project begins construction in mid-2008.

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lao Si Io (劉仕堯) said that the Government deems that it is “necessary” to launch the second phase of the LRT system, after preliminary analysis, and a related timetable has been defined.

A detailed research, including public consultation, will begin immediately after the first phase of the project begins construction in mid-2008.

Lao dismissed calls to extend the existing first phase proposal route to the first phase to the north west of Macau, that covers densely populated neighbourhoods such as Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei, saying that the extension is to be included in the second phase of the project.

He explained that if the first and second phases of the project are to be launched at the same time, it will take four to six years to complete, and Macau’s road traffic is believed to be incapable of the disruptions caused by constructions.

He pointed out that the first and second phases of the project will cover 10% of the roads on the Macau Peninsula, which will “stall” Macau’s traffic if constructions are to be conducted at the same time.

He also explained that having the LRT covered to the north east of Macau first is because it can cover more population.

He rejected claims that the system is purely for visitors, saying that it can also meet the commuting needs of 40% of Macau’s population, or about 200,000 people.

In response to calls to extend the consultation period to three months from 45 days, saying that the public has been given ample time to express their opinion before the refined plan was published, and so the duration of 45 days is sufficient.

However, the authorities will adjust appropriately in response to opinions.

source

[ggaaxx]

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lao Si Io (劉仕堯) told architects and engineers that extending the LRT system into the northwest of the Macau Peninsula will be considered.

He added that such consideration will be subject to the capacity of the transport network during the first phase of construction of the system.

Under the existing proposal, the first phase of Macau’s LRT system will terminate at Portas do Cerco, in the north of Macau Peninsula. Residents living in Ilha Verde and Fai Chi Kei in the northwest had repeatedly expressed hopes that the system could be extended to their neighbourhoods rather than leaving it until the second phase of the project.

Lao told representatives of architects and engineers in a consultative session that the Government feels necessary to introduce the LRT system in the northwest and the Inner Harbour neighbourhoods, but the route has to be studied carefully since the demand for space means that it may not be easy to introduce LRT into the Inner Harbour area.

The Government insists that the study of the feasibility of the second phase of the project will be launched immediately after the first phase has begun construction, but does not rule out to have certain stations reserved for the second phase to be constructed first before the first phase of the project is completed.

Lao also denied claims that the LRT system is constructed only for the benefit of visitors, saying that both residents and visitors have the right to use means of local public transport, and division between residents and visitors is unnecessary given Macau’s society has already accepted visitors coming to Macau.

He added that the first phase of the LRT system has covered commercial and casino areas in NAPE/ZAPE and Cotai, which serves the commuting needs of many local residents reaching to and from work.

Meanwhile, Macau’s World Heritage sites will not be affected as a result of the introduction of the system.

The A-Ma Temple station will be built at the former Government Shipyard site, which is located at a certain distance away from the temple itself.

The Office for the Development of Infrastructure said that the buildings of the former shipyard will not be fully demolished.

Moreover, room has been reserved to connect Macau’s LRT system to the proposed Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and travelators will possibly be installed at Portas do Cerco station to connect it with the Zhuhai Port station of the Pearl River Delta Intercity Light Rail System.

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[Jim856796]

The proposed Macao LRT is all just one big metro line with a branch in the Cotai Strip as shown in the New Macau projects map.

[ggaaxx]

The Government may delete the clause which allows bus operators to renew their monopolies automatically when their contracts expire.

Sources told Macao Daily News that the Government will consider regaining more control in dealing with bus operators.

Under existing contracts, the monopoly contracts will automatically be renewed for another 10 years if review or negotiations are not taking place a year before they expire.

The contracts between the Government and the two bus operators, Transmac and TCM, will expire in October 2008, which means the Government has to decide whether there should be a review by next month.

The community has repeatedly demanded an improvement of public transport services, and the Government has also repeatedly emphasised the principle of giving priority to public transport.

One of the problems in the existing contracts is that the Government only has the effective power to approve bus routes designated by bus operators, rather than designing and introducing it.

This has resulted in a number of bus routes being highly overlapped, and main roads are usually congested with buses, along with other vehicles which are also on the increase.

It is hoped, in a long term, that buses in Macau will become the secondary means of public transport to supplement the LRT system once it is completed, and a three-tier public transport system which includes the LRT, buses and travelators will eventually be formed in Macau.

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[hkth]

Xinhua news:
Survey says 60% support Macao light metro project

[OuMun]

Originally Posted by hkth

Xinhua news:
Survey says 60% support Macao light metro project

Traffic is too crazy at the moment. Metro is welcome to Macau!

[ggaaxx]

The Government gave a green light to the first phase of the LRT project, which will not be extended into the North West of the Macau Peninsula.

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lao Si Io (劉仕堯) said that the Government will do all it can to have the project publicly tendered and constructed by the second half of 2008, while the whole project is expected to complete by the end of 2011.

The first phase of the project will measure 20km long and have 23 stations along. The capacity of passengers will be 8,000 per hour in each direction for two-car trains.

The construction is expected to take 48 months to complete, and will begin full operations in 2011.

The Government launched a 45-day consultation period for the project, during which more than 130 comments and opinions were received.

Lao promised to introduce an anti-corruption and auditing mechanism for the project to control the construction cost of the project, which is estimated to be at MOP4.2 billion.

He also said that the Government has ruled out the chance to set up a body totally funded by the Government to operate the system, while other operational forms are still under consideration.

Meanwhile, the public opinion in general has expressed reservation in introducing a public-private partnership to operate the LRT.

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[SeeMacau]

The route map

[ggaaxx]

Pretty good coverage for most tourist attractions

[ggaaxx]

The Government sets up a project team dedicated to Macau’s Light Rapid Transit system project.

The Macau Special Administrative Region Gazette published the Chief Executive’s Dispatch yesterday, promulgating the decision to set up an Office for Transport Infrastructure (GIT).

According to the Dispatch, GIT will be chiefly responsible for the LRT project, along with assisting the Government to formulate future policies concerning public transport.

The period of existence of the Office is set at five years, and is renewable.

Sources told Jornal Va Kio that the Government is due to announce the appointment of the Director of the Office in due course.

Meanwhile, legislators have mixed opinions about the setting up of the new office.

Ng Kuok Cheong (吳國昌) said that the office is unnecessary, and its functions may overlap with similar government agencies for public transport.

José Pereira Coutinho also said that the office may overlapped functions, and pointed out that the LRT project should have more transparency.

Kwan Tsui Hang (關翠杏) agreed that it is necessary to set up a separate office for a project which Macau has no experience in, but she hoped that more coordination is needed to avoid the construction effectiveness and efficiency being affected.

In response, the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works told Jornal Va Kio that it is necessary to set up a separate office for the project after learning from experiences in other cities.

It also pointed out that the Office for the Development of Infrastructure (GDI) is now responsible for a number of infrastructure projects, making it not able to concentrate on the LRT project at the same time.

It stressed that the different government agencies have clear divisions of labour in executing public transport policies.

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