Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Plans To Integrate Public Transport Networks

[webfact]

BMA plans to integrate public transport networks

By Patcharee Lueng-uthai

The Nation

Bangkok officials are gearing up transport projects over the next few years in a bid to boost the number of city residents who travel via public transport through a better integration of major and minor networks.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) also plans to launch a single ticket for BTS and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services early next year before joining with the subway (MRT) at the end of 2011.

Teerachon Manomaiphibul, the BMA deputy governor, said that under their strategic plan, they would integrate major and minor mass transit networks, linking the Skytrain service with buses, light rail and even canal ferries.

The network integration aims to change Bangkokians travelling habits from private cars to public transport services that offer greater convenience.

Currently, the BMA is extending the Skytrain from On Nut to Baring, a link which is due to be completed next year. A separate BTS extension from Wong Wien Yai to Bang Wa is due to start operating in 2012.

Meanwhile, the BMA plans to complete the installation of 56 lifts at 25 BTS stations prior to 2012 to enable easier access for people with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant women.

There are further plans to expand the BRT service after pioneering a route between Chong Nonsi and Ratchaphuek. Other planned routes include Mor Chit to the government office centre at Chaeng Wattana and Nonthaburi, Chong Nonsi to Pracha Uthit, Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi, Min Buri to Samrong and Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi.

Teerachon said that water transport was also important. Next year, the BMA hoped to develop a new mode of water transport. Besides expanding new routes and piers, it will launch air-conditioned boats and decorate the walkways along both sides of canals.

The BMA planned to operate a water transport service along Klong Saen Sap next year for a total distance of 30 kilometres from Phanfa Lilat to Wat Si Bunrueang with 27 piers, and Wat Si Bunrueng to Tha Rua with 14 piers. These would accommodate travellers who could link to Phaya Thai and Ratchathewi BTS stations.

The air-conditioned boats would be operated along Klong Phetchakasem, accessible to planned BTS lines from Wong Wien Yai to Bang Wa and from Bang Wa to Bang Khae and Phetchakasem 69, which due to be completed in 2012. The water transport route would also link to BRT Chong Nonsi to Ratchaphuek.

In regard to the monorail project, the BMA planned to commence a first route from Chulalongkorn and Siam late next year, while the Monorail Grand Rama IX project and Light Rail from Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi Airport were planned to operate in 2013.

Other routes "in the pipeline" include from BMA Head office 2 to Rang Nam Road to Yothi Road and Ramkhamhaeng University and Thong Lo - to cover more inner-city areas, particularly central business districts that are not accessible to major mass transit lines.

Besides the integration of major and minor networks, the BMA has adopted technology to create a single ticket for all public transit systems. It plans to launch the joint ticket for BTS and BRT early next year and join the MRT in the end of 2011. They also want the single ticket to be useable on monorail/light rail, water transport and airport link services.

The BMA also plans to build 7 skywalks to link to mass transit routes - at Ratchaprasong and Pratunam Intersection, Victory Monument and Pathumwan Intersection, Ramkhamhaeng 24 and Rajamangala National Stadium (Hua Mark Sports Complex), Bang Na to Ekkamai, Ekkamai to Udomsuk, Udomsuk to Baring and Ratchaprasong to Taksin.

Teerachon said next year the BMA would conduct a survey on public transport services as a guideline for further improvements in response to peoples' needs.

It would also produce a guidebook of public transport services to help people prepare for travel via public transport networks. This would also provide details about mass transit buses, the airport link and even motorcycle taxis.

-- The Nation 2010-12-14

[creck]

Wow!! What forethought.

Might I mention, also needed is some increased capacity, or enforced staggered working hours.

Early next year? We shall see.

[asiawatcher]

Now if only they would get rid of police controlling traffic lights and put all lights on 60 second cycles maximum, the traffic can flow too. All pie in the sky when such simple things can save billion of baht.

[mezzoninny]

Hope they won't end up covering every street up with BTS tracks or skywalks... it can get a little claustrophobic. Anyone remember how Ploenchit was before the skytrain?

And of course hopefully they'll add capacity to the BTS itself. Apart from these two things, I totally look forward to what they plan to put in place

[scorecard]

Now if only they would get rid of police controlling traffic lights and put all lights on 60 second cycles maximum, the traffic can flow too. All pie in the sky when such simple things can save billion of baht.

Maybe 12 years or more back there was a massive project to install a computerised system to coordinate all traffic lights across all of greater Bangkok.

The first morning it was turned on there was some chaos, and the police insisted that it be turned off immedialely and also insisted that it never be turned on again.

From memory it has in fact never been turned on again.

It seems the authotities aren't aware of the old motto ' no gain without pain '.

[chivo]

not addressing the ridiculous situation of the airport link makkasan? no connections?

[Lakegeneve]

not addressing the ridiculous situation of the airport link makkasan? no connections?

Connections in what sense?

[Lakegeneve]

Hope they won't end up covering every street up with BTS tracks or skywalks... it can get a little claustrophobic. Anyone remember how Ploenchit was before the skytrain?

And of course hopefully they'll add capacity to the BTS itself. Apart from these two things, I totally look forward to what they plan to put in place

There are lots of 'theys'. In terms of new lines, BTS exts or MRT or monorail, there are 6 different transport bodies involved plus the two current private companies. Most of the planned 12 metro lines by 2029 will be elevated.

In terms of BTS capacity that is the responsibility of the operator BTSC. They have the newish 12 4 cars CNR trains which will run on the silom line and have ordered 35 extra cars to expand the 3 car sets to 4 cars by 2012.

One of the problems with having a private operator is their limitation of funds as we have seen with the BTSC not being able to purchase new rolling stock until recently and only after debt restructuring.

[chivo]

i was referring to makkasan not being connected to other public transport in any brilliant way... subway is a good walk outside lugging bags and across traffic (phetburi station)... or the 'connection' being that you ride the train to phaya thai... but you have to take the local train to do that! not express!!!!! so it is no longer atime saver!

[Lakegeneve]

i was referring to makkasan not being connected to other public transport in any brilliant way... subway is a good walk outside lugging bags and across traffic (phetburi station)... or the 'connection' being that you ride the train to phaya thai... but you have to take the local train to do that! not express!!!!! so it is no longer atime saver!

Yes fully agree with you, currently it is not easy as it should be.

However, by the 3rd quarter of 2011 there will be a link. Funding is there but there has been a delay due to a request to amend the design. Makkasan will be a future terminal for eastern intercity trains and the whole railyards will be developed into a mixed use mini city in 20 yrs times. Thus, the size and location of the station away from Ratachda rd is due to those two factors.

Also, remember that the links between the BTS & MRT at Sukhumvit and Silom were not built until 1 year and 2 years respectively after the MRT opened. Poor planning all round but eventually these gaps are fixed.

[SamritT]

Excellent idea by Thai people.

[007]

Thailand - the Hub for Big Words and Promises? I'd be happy if they could solve the 'little' things first, like problems with the BTS Silom line, and the not working escalator at the BTS Onnut station, which hasn't been working for the past 2-3 days...

[metisdead]

One inflammatory post removed from view.