Govt plan for trams in Chiang Mai

City has a dire need for mass transport, deputy minister says

CHIANG MAI: -- One of the most important problems facing Chiang Mai is the dire need for mass transportation, according to Deputy Transport Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

Speaking at a seminar on Chiang Mai’s future public transport last week, he said 90 per cent of the city’s residents use private vehicles.

The Transport Ministry has therefore allocated Bt50 million for the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to study and improve the city’s mass transit system. Negotiations are underway with the stubborn and unpopular Lanna Cooperatives Transport-ation, which has been fighting local authorities for decades to hold onto its monopoly of the city’s public transportation with 2,700 songtaews.

“We plan to introduce trams to the city in the near future,” the deputy minister said.

The launch of Chiang Mai’s first buses in more than a decade earlier this month was seen as a small victory for the authorities.

Although there are only 26 buses, the service was delayed for more than a year by the cooperative’s protests and opposition, making it clear that the road to sustainable transportation is not going to be easy. The air-conditioned buses now run a few city routes, but the municipality compromised and allowed 100 songtaews to run two main routes and to continue operating freely within the city.

So far, about 2,000 people use the bus service each day. The fact that air-conditioned buses cost Bt10 per person and a red songtaew costs Bt15 is considered a contributing factor to its success.

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranuprakorn said that by next year Chiang Mai’s population will virtually double to three million. Expansion of roads and other serious measures must be implemented as soon as possible to respond to increasing traffic congestion. Huay Kaew road, the four-lane road linking the foot of Doi Suthep mountain to the city’s heart, will be expanded to six lanes next year, he said.

--The Nation 2005-11-10

yeah, it would be nice to have trams whizzing round the moat road, great innit?

" Huay Kaew road, the four-lane road linking the foot of Doi Suthep mountain to the city’s heart, will be expanded to six lanes next year, he said."

I live at the top of the road. Trying to drive down now is a nightmare sometimes. I can imagine when they start the roadwork

Is there no cheaper alternative to trams?

Is there no cheaper alternative to trams?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shank's pony ok for you?

On yer bike !

yeah, it would be nice to have trams whizzing round the moat road, great innit?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ำพะำพะีีนนำไ

Govt plan for trams in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranuprakorn said that by next year Chiang Mai’s population will virtually double to three million.

--The Nation 2005-11-10

I wonder where this number comes from. Presently there's supposdly only about 300,000 people registered under house papers in the city.

Govt plan for trams in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranuprakorn said that by next year Chiang Mai’s population will virtually double to three million.

--The Nation 2005-11-10

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder where this number comes from. Presently there's supposdly only about 300,000 people registered under house papers in the city.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Aren't they talking about Chiang Mai province rather than just the city?

Govt plan for trams in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Mayor Boonlert Buranuprakorn said that by next year Chiang Mai’s population will virtually double to three million.

--The Nation 2005-11-10

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder where this number comes from. Presently there's supposdly only about 300,000 people registered under house papers in the city.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

both are acceptable numbers i.e. the 1.6million and the 300000 numbers.

latest chiangmai provincial gov.'s published population data, as of april 10, 2005:

CM province 1,603,220 (so doubling that will be roughly 3mil.)

CM city - Chiangmai Muang District 248,340 (or ball park figure 300000 you mentioned)

Ref. http://e.chiangmai.go.th/45manage/view_detail45.php?tid=551

Govt plan for trams in Chiang Mai

“We plan to introduce trams to the city in the near future,” the deputy minister said.

...

--The Nation 2005-11-10

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

would be fun if the trams would run down from the foothill of suthep, like those coming down the steep streets of san francisco.

A friend of mine who's working on a PhD in economy focusing on transport issues says that the best solution for Chiang Mai's size and budget is improving and expanding the bus system. Buses running on ethanol and electricity are already in service in various locations over the world.

Rail transport require very high investments. But trams look a lot nicer than buses.

... the best solution for Chiang Mai's size and budget is improving and expanding the bus system.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i understand that the urgent need for mass transit is well recognized at the national (especially with the PM from CM) and provincial level. however, the well-entranched song taew owners are so powerful locally that the bus service had to be delayed under threat of boycott from the song taew operation. finally compromise had to be struck by giving a couple lucrative routes be run by the good ole song taew as bus, charging B15 vs. B10 of the air-conditioned real bus! one can imagine the cash raked in annually when one group had a monopoly for all transportation in the 2nd largest city of the nation.