Buses the new solution to Phuket transport woes

The routes that the planned Phuket light rail system was set to cover.

PHUKET: -- Plans for a light rail system spanning Phuket have been scrapped in favor of the much cheaper option of scheduling new bus routes, it recently emerged.

“We will no longer refer to this project as the light rail or monorail system project,” said Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop. “We will now refer to it as the Bus Rapid Transit system project.”

Gov Wichai was speaking as chairman of the Phuket Provincial Traffic Planning (PPTP) subcommittee, which last met on Tuesday.

“The plan can now go forward with a much smaller budget,” Gov Wichai said.

Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising said his organization would take on the project, provided costs are reasonable.

Under the old plan three light rail lines would have been run.

The first would have connected Phuket International Airport with Chalong Circle.

The second would link Phuket Town to Patong.

The third route would run from Bang Khu Intersection (where the bypass road meets Thepkrassatri Rd) to Chalong circle.

It is likely the Bus Rapid Transit network would cover similar routes.

Mr Paiboon said the PPAO, which already operates the pink photong buses in Phuket Town, will carry out a study of the failings of Phuket’s current transportation system.

It will also develop strategies to encourage people to make more use of public transportation.

A forthcoming meeting between the PPAO, the PPTP and the Phuket Land and Transportation Office will continue discussions of the Bus Rapid Transit system.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-03-19

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Ummm...excuse me Mr. Phrias-gnop? Yeah... we already have buses running most of those routes. Thanks anyway. It was a bus between Kata/Karon and Patong we needed, and meters in the taxi's and tuk tuks with reasonable flagdrops and per km pricing. That's all. No study needed.

Please?

There simply needs to be circuit route buses.. Bang Tao to Chalong via the coast.. With a doubling of capacity from Kamala to Kata.

Now even though I have only been to Phuket once - even I know that would be too easy!!