TRAVEL NEWS

Chiang Mai’s Bus Rapid Transit to Operate by 2010

30 Sept 2006, The second public hearing on the Chiang Mai transit system was held on September 25 at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel to inform the public of the progress of the master plan and provide a stage for them to express their ideas.

It was concluded at the last seminar held in May that land transport is much needed in the city and bus rapid transit (BRT), which has been in use in over 50 cities across the world was chosen as the best transport.

The estimated budget for the whole system which will include construction of its track, stations, and digital technology is 7.2 billion baht, said Dr. Rangsan Udomsri, the head of the Chiang Mai mass transit system’s feasibility study group who are from the Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University. The feasibility study has reached 80% completion and will be proposed to the cabinet soon.

Dr. Rangsan has strengthened the need for a better transportation system by citing that only 8% of residents use the current public transportation and traffic will reach a severe status in the next ten years if the issue is not addressed.

The construction of the system is expected to start by 2008 and will launch its full operation by the end of 2010. In the first phase of the 10 year operation, BRT will provide a service on first four routes which largely covers an area downtown and famous destinations such as City Hall, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Chiang Mai Zoo, 700 Year Stadium, Tha Pae gate, and many schools and universities. The routes are altogether 40 kilometres in length.

The feasibility study group is now considering three types of BRT for full operation including the diesel Euro 4 engine, hybrid and electric trolley buses, said Dr. Keerati Kitmanawat, an expert in mass transit systems. The diesel Euro 4 engine will give high emissions but require cheaper maintenance cost while the environmentally-friendly hybrid and electric trolley bus will require an expensive maintenance budget.

“The bus will have its own track and privilege to get green lights when passing through all junctions to provide faster service. On some streets which have limited space, the bus will have to run on the same street with other vehicles,” explained Assoc Prof Lamduan Srisakda, an expert in transport and traffic. Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) is at 29% or approximately 11,840 million baht.

“An independent organisation will have to be set up to administrate the service, which will integrate all transportation in Chiang Mai including the new BRT, red song taew and municipal buses together,” said Dr. Rangsan.

The whole BRT system will be controlled by digital technology. Bus tickets can be purchased at the stations or ticket machines and they will be refillable. Initially, the bus fee will start at 10 baht and increase 1 baht a kilometre. Red song taew and current municipal buses will serve as feeders to the system providing service to minor routes and soi.
Park and ride areas will be provided to let passengers park their vehicles close to the stations.

Source: chiangmainews.com

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