Traffic In Bangkok Set To Worsen In 2014, Official Warns

[webfact]

Traffic in Bangkok set to worsen in 2014, official warns

Vipaporn Jitsomboon

The Nation

The worst is yet to come for Bangkokians grumbling about traffic conditions.

BANGKOK: -- According to Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, 2014 will be the worst due to the sharp increase in the number of vehicles and construction of several mega-projects. Though 80 per cent of vehicles bought under the first-car buyer scheme - estimated to reach 800,000 units - are registered in the provinces, it remains unknown how many will be brought to the capital.

"Traffic conditions will worsen, with a sharp increase in the number of vehicles against unchanged road space. Construction work plus the poor discipline of some drivers will worsen it. It'll be difficult for vehicles to move fast. At best, we can only try to maintain the current average speed," he said.

The worst will be in 2014 when the Green Line (Mor Chit-Saphan Mai-Khoo Khot) construction will start on Phaholyothin, one of the main city routes, he added.

Foreseeing the situation, the office is now gathering construction plans of all mega-projects planned for now until 2017 to draw up a new traffic plan.

A campaign will be launched to reduce personal vehicles on the streets. More brand-new air-conditioned public buses will be in service, with special bus lanes. More park and ride locations will be provided with buses to transport commuters to electric trains.

Despite a spike in oil prices, the number of all types of vehicles in Greater Bangkok has been on the rise. In the first 10 months of 2012, 1,536 vehicles were registered daily in Bangkok and the peripheral provinces, up 39.6 per cent from 1,100 in the same period last year. Motorcycle registration in Greater Bangkok also increased by 18.8 per cent year on year to 1,272 per day.

As of October 31, the outstanding number of registered vehicles in Greater Bangkok stood at 7,384,934, an increase of 535,721 or 7.8 per cent from the end of last year.

Major construction projects include the Purple Line (Bang Sue-Bang Yai), the Red Line (Bang Sue-Taling Chan), Blue Line (Bang Sue-Tha Phra and Hualampong-Bang Khae), and tunnels at Charansanitvong-Borom Rajajonani intersection, at Charansanitvong-Phrannok intersection and at Taksin-Mahaisawan intersection.

The office conducted a survey during July-September, normally the most congested period of the year when all educational institutions are open. It found traffic conditions on average this year were not much different from last year. The average speed for rush-hour inbound traffic was 16.5 km per hour, against 16.3 km/h last year. The average outbound traffic during rush hours was 23.5 km/h, against 23.9 km/h. Drivers living in the North and West witnessed faster speeds as some commuters diverted to other routes to avoid the Purple Line and Blue Line construction sites. Better traffic management also counted.

"When all the construction projects are completed, traffic problems will not simply go away. The government needs new measures to promote public transportation, to reduce congestion on streets and expressways," Chula concluded.

-- The Nation 2012-12-17

[rheinwiese]

Oh really? Who woulda thought

[cup-O-coffee]

Officials set to utter more stupid things in 2014, warns cup-O-coffee.

[Teerak2]

Isaan never looked better

[ratcatcher]

Isaan never looked better

As compared to where?

[Bagwan]

I congratulate Khun Chula for availing himself of the services of an astrologer whose muttered garbage is at times tinged with a modicum of reality.

[MaxLee]

More high status-addicted Cronies, more cars, more Megapeojects on the roads, more road closures, more damage to the centuries underinvested infrastructure, and calculating more natural disasters at a random pace,... You know that chaos is inevitable

[Teerak2]

Isaan never looked better

As compared to where?

As compared to metropolitan areas with bad traffic facing worse traffic in 2014, and higher amounts of pollution. The smiley face used to indicate a smidge of sarcasm since I like cities just as much as the countryside...everything in moderation.

[bkk_mike]

All they're saying is that there are more cars on the road, and that the traffic will temporarily get worse in the areas where they're building new infrastructure.

I'm just glad they're building new subway lines... so that, in the longer run, there's an alternative to driving everywhere, and not just in the centre of Bangkok.

[ChrisY1]

Cha Am traffic chaos continues.....had to wait 2 minutes for the bloody lights to change........!!!!

[Halion]

Lived in 4 locations in Thailand over the past several years , Sri Racha , Udon Thani, Phuket and now Bangkok and would say without a doubt that trying to live in this polluted, congested broken down collection of villages that they call metropolitan Bangkok is a bloody nightmare at best.

Everything here is broken and what is not, is about to break. Atmospheric pollution from a myriad of sources, scattered refuse, effusive drain systems, broken pavements and poor quality roads. Chaotic road systems, jammed up soi's, constant interuptions to water and electric services , all make for a very poor experience compared to other location we have lived in Thailand.

Should it not be driven by necessity I would not even set foot in this place. Truly a shit hole when compared to many other Thai locations and it can only get worse. There is nothing civilized nor comforting about living in this cesspit.

[doctorproc156]

They don't say? Public transport in Bangkok is beyond pathetic for a city of this size and wealth.

[pete66]

Lived in 4 locations in Thailand over the past several years , Sri Racha , Udon Thani, Phuket and now Bangkok and would say without a doubt that trying to live in this polluted, congested broken down collection of villages that they call metropolitan Bangkok is a bloody nightmare at best.

Everything here is broken and what is not, is about to break. Atmospheric pollution from a myriad of sources, scattered refuse, effusive drain systems, broken pavements and poor quality roads. Chaotic road systems, jammed up soi's, constant interuptions to water and electric services , all make for a very poor experience compared to other location we have lived in Thailand.

Should it not be driven by necessity I would not even set foot in this place. Truly a shit hole when compared to many other Thai locations and it can only get worse. There is nothing civilized nor comforting about living in this cesspit.

Say what you really mean

No, you are right man. I got out of BKK after 10 years, and moved up North. Best decision ever made. You do get "used" to living in BKK, its only when you go back after a while away you realize what a horror story it really is.

[sprq]

All they're saying is that there are more cars on the road, and that the traffic will temporarily get worse in the areas where they're building new infrastructure.

I'm just glad they're building new subway lines... so that, in the longer run, there's an alternative to driving everywhere, and not just in the centre of Bangkok.

Subway lines will undoubtedly help a lot of people with their trips. but the real solution to Bangkok's gridlock would be a huge cut in parking spaces throughout central Bangkok in all commercial and government buildings along with the institution of strictly enforced bus lanes, a huge increase and improvement in buses, and a huge increase in bus routes, rationally organised. Then you would approach the kind of situation that you have in London or Paris.

Of course, it's not going to happen. Neither the political will nor the necessary official competence is present, and of course this kind of thing offers few opportunities for graft, which is the main motivator in Thailand.

Bangkok will never ever have a good transportation set-up.

[mrdome]

And eventually the whole mess called Bangkok (and my former home of 4+ years) will sink into the ground and be swallowed up by rising sea levels...

[Halion]

And eventually the whole mess called Bangkok (and my former home of 4+ years) will sink into the ground and be swallowed up by rising sea levels...

I will drink to that.

[paymaster]

Cha Am traffic chaos continues.....had to wait 2 minutes for the bloody lights to change........!!!!

You've just broken my heart! When did they put the lights in and why?

[CockneyGit]

"Traffic set to worsen" ..?? Jeez....

Currently around 2 hours from Thonglor to Ploenchit during rush hour. I thought couldn't get any worse!

Ho-Hum! T.I.T

Edited December 17, 2012 by metisdead
: Tiny font reset to normal.

[Lakegeneve]

As with many articles the facts are inaccurate ins ome respects.

The Red Line is already open for trial services so no further impacts on traffic from that. The Charan Sanitwong- Boroom (Pata intersection) tunnel opened nearly 2 weeks ago, http://www.mrta-blueline.com/progresses/announce/50bd6054d0fc7a2d7c00000b

The problem has been that decision makers have been dysfunctional, confused and delayed building new metro lines so that BKK is about 10-15 behind where it should be mass transit wise. Finally, a few new lines are belatedly being built (most started under the previous govt) and so there is a large back log.

One can keep building roads and new expressways - though there is little space - but as experience everywhere in the world shows, extra road space just results in extra urban congestion and slower transit times! An integrated, BKK wide mass transit network is the only real solution but we are some 15 years away from that.

And it wouldn't hurt the BMA and surrounding provinces to come up with an integrated 20 year transport plan for Greater Bangkok but that may be too much to ask.

[cacruden]

All they're saying is that there are more cars on the road, and that the traffic will temporarily get worse in the areas where they're building new infrastructure.

I'm just glad they're building new subway lines... so that, in the longer run, there's an alternative to driving everywhere, and not just in the centre of Bangkok.

Subway lines will undoubtedly help a lot of people with their trips. but the real solution to Bangkok's gridlock would be a huge cut in parking spaces throughout central Bangkok in all commercial and government buildings along with the institution of strictly enforced bus lanes, a huge increase and improvement in buses, and a huge increase in bus routes, rationally organised. Then you would approach the kind of situation that you have in London or Paris.

Of course, it's not going to happen. Neither the political will nor the necessary official competence is present, and of course this kind of thing offers few opportunities for graft, which is the main motivator in Thailand.

Bangkok will never ever have a good transportation set-up.

Buses will just get stuck in the traffic jams. If people are not going to move out of the way for ambulances, it will be hard to keep them out of the bus lanes (and of course the lack of space on most roads for them).

Traffic will continue to jam up, and there is nothing that can stop that -- without getting rid of the cars on the road itself. They could implement the Singapore ERP charging that if you go through certain locations during certain hours -- it is going to cost you.

For the masses, they have to build out rapid transit a lot more than it is now - and lower the cost of ridership (along with taking the few lines to full length trains). For short distances, the motorcycle taxis will continue to do that job.

[snooky]

Where can you find maps of subway/ BTS lines - both proposed or ready to open - about the only thing I can usually find is what is already in place./

Edited December 17, 2012 by snooky

[thaibeachlovers]

All they're saying is that there are more cars on the road, and that the traffic will temporarily get worse in the areas where they're building new infrastructure.

I'm just glad they're building new subway lines... so that, in the longer run, there's an alternative to driving everywhere, and not just in the centre of Bangkok.

Subway lines will undoubtedly help a lot of people with their trips. but the real solution to Bangkok's gridlock would be a huge cut in parking spaces throughout central Bangkok in all commercial and government buildings along with the institution of strictly enforced bus lanes, a huge increase and improvement in buses, and a huge increase in bus routes, rationally organised. Then you would approach the kind of situation that you have in London or Paris.

Of course, it's not going to happen. Neither the political will nor the necessary official competence is present, and of course this kind of thing offers few opportunities for graft, which is the main motivator in Thailand.

Bangkok will never ever have a good transportation set-up.

<Then you would approach the kind of situation that you have in London or Paris.>

Dunno where you get the idea that bus travel is easy in London. I was there for 10 years and it sucked at rush hour. The tube is the only thing that saves London from a permanent traffic jam.

[Lakegeneve]

Where can you find maps of subway/ BTS lines - both proposed or ready to open - about the only thing I can usually find is what is already in place./

Everything you need to know is but a thread or two away

[Psych01]

Shame Korea is not in ASEAN, Thailand could learn something from this: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/605499-traffic-in-bangkok-set-to-worsen-in-2014-official-warns/

[Psych01]

Shame Korea is not in ASEAN, Thailand could learn something from this:

Sorry, wrong link. Try this one:

[DocN]

Shame Korea is not in ASEAN, Thailand could learn something from this: http://www.thaivisa....official-warns/

As if Thailand is willing to learn from anyone!

Outsiders don't know Thainess!

[razer]

Uncooperative taxi drivers, a computerized traffic management system still manually controlled by police, 1950s trains, uncomfortable buses with limited seating and a mass transit MRT and BTS system that connects only a narrow band of commercial areas all dictate the necessity for a car. I think if I could just depend on taxis I wouldn't bother with a car.

[ableguy]

Lived in 4 locations in Thailand over the past several years , Sri Racha , Udon Thani, Phuket and now Bangkok and would say without a doubt that trying to live in this polluted, congested broken down collection of villages that they call metropolitan Bangkok is a bloody nightmare at best.

Everything here is broken and what is not, is about to break. Atmospheric pollution from a myriad of sources, scattered refuse, effusive drain systems, broken pavements and poor quality roads. Chaotic road systems, jammed up soi's, constant interuptions to water and electric services , all make for a very poor experience compared to other location we have lived in Thailand.

Should it not be driven by necessity I would not even set foot in this place. Truly a shit hole when compared to many other Thai locations and it can only get worse. There is nothing civilized nor comforting about living in this cesspit.

Say what you really mean

No, you are right man. I got out of BKK after 10 years, and moved up North. Best decision ever made. You do get "used" to living in BKK, its only when you go back after a while away you realize what a horror story it really is.

You are so right moved from BKK to Hua Hin it was great, problem now is massive building projects still the same old roads, we are heading up North and would not care if never have to set foot in either place again.

[Asiantravel]

Lived in 4 locations in Thailand over the past several years , Sri Racha , Udon Thani, Phuket and now Bangkok and would say without a doubt that trying to live in this polluted, congested broken down collection of villages that they call metropolitan Bangkok is a bloody nightmare at best.

Everything here is broken and what is not, is about to break. Atmospheric pollution from a myriad of sources, scattered refuse, effusive drain systems, broken pavements and poor quality roads. Chaotic road systems, jammed up soi's, constant interuptions to water and electric services , all make for a very poor experience compared to other location we have lived in Thailand.

Should it not be driven by necessity I would not even set foot in this place. Truly a shit hole when compared to many other Thai locations and it can only get worse. There is nothing civilized nor comforting about living in this cesspit.

Say what you really mean

No, you are right man. I got out of BKK after 10 years, and moved up North. Best decision ever made. You do get "used" to living in BKK, its only when you go back after a while away you realize what a horror story it really is.

All that black smoke that comes out of those old buses that are so loud in places like Silom where the BTS encloses all the pollution - yes it is a cesspit.

and Bangkok doesnt have any aesthetically pleasing features.... compare it to some of its neighbours like Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Vientienne and even Yangon at least some of the architecture is interesting but i cant think of a single place in Bangkok where you could say that.

Edited December 17, 2012 by Asiantravel

[Mickeem]

And eventually the whole mess called Bangkok (and my former home of 4+ years) will sink into the ground and be swallowed up by rising sea levels...

I will drink to that.

No I would not.. Tens of Thousands of well off Bangkok citizens have already decided to move to Chiang Mai and have over the last few years have been systematicaly overdeveloping the city to resemble the city they 'fled' and are choking the city streets with their big new shiny Fortuners or what ever is the car of the month...