Latest news with #LRT
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland
Penang's public transport scene is currently dominated by Rapid Penang buses, which cover a wide network across both the island and the mainland. You'll also find convenient alternatives like Grab for e-hailing, trishaws for short trips, and a free city bus called CAT that loops around George Town. But change is on the horizon. Come Aug 2025, Penang will begin building its first-ever metro system — the LRT Mutiara Line. Previously referred to as the Bayan Lepas LRT Project, this upgraded version gets its name from Penang's nickname, 'Pearl of the Orient,' and is all about easing traffic while better connecting the island and beyond. Spanning 29.5km with 21 planned stations, the LRT Mutiara Line will link key destinations across the island and mainland. It'll run between the new Penang South Reclamation Island A (also called Silicon Island) and major spots like KOMTAR and Penang Sentral. Trains will alternate routes, making it easier to get around without adding to road congestion. This LRT will feature Park & Ride options, transit-oriented development (TOD) zones, and smooth last-mile connections to support Penang's growth in a greener, more structured way. It'll even connect to important points like the Penang International Airport and Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. Two main depots will support operations once construction of LRT Mutiara Line kicks off. With a maximum capacity of 10.9K passengers per hour in each direction, each train will carry at least 405 people — and select stations will include more than 1K parking spots for both cars and motorcycles. Expect about a 45-minute ride from Silicon Island to KOMTAR, and 49 minutes to Penang Sentral — a small price for skipping traffic and enjoying a more connected, sustainable Penang. While progress might appear slow in the early stages, it's worth noting that the project is scheduled for completion only by 31 Dec 2031 to give it a long but carefully planned timeline while ensuring everything runs smoothly. KL to JB ETS launches Aug 2025 — a new era for Singapore-Malaysia travel The post Penang's LRT Mutiara Line to begin construction in Aug — 21 stations across island & mainland appeared first on
CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
Edmonton transit bracing for impacts by ‘critical' construction project at Century Park this summer
People prepare to board the LRT at the Century Park LRT station in Edmonton, on Friday, February 26, CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson City crews will close down a portion of a southside transit station to pedestrians and vehicles for several weeks in the summer for necessary repairs. According to a news release from the City of Edmonton, Century Park Transit Centre will undergo 'critical construction and repairs' from June 29 to Aug. 30. • Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device During that time, construction crews will remove concrete on the east side of the transit station. Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) will be providing temporary bus stops at Century Park Transit Centre and altering bus routes to accommodate riders' needs. ETS Kiss and Ride along 111 Street will be shut down during construction to give access to buses with relocated stops. Those bus routes are: 56 West Edmonton Mall; 709 Southgate; 716 Leger; 717 Leger; 721 Rutherford; 722 Allard; and 729 Leger. The city says no personal vehicles will be allowed to stop in the area and encourages residents to use alternate locations including Heritage Valley, Southgate and Davies transit centres for pick-up and drop-off. A temporary stop will be stationed on the grassy north curb of the Century Park bus stop. These bus routes, and On Demand Transit, will be utilizing that stop: 1 Leduc; 518 Mill Woods; 707 Southgate; and 715 Leger. The city said travel delays are likely to occur during construction, but Routes 721, 722, and 729 are expected to experience the most delays. Riders can plan their trip using the City of Edmonton's Trip Planner to get transit alerts, view real-time bus tracking, and access scheduling information.
a day ago
- Politics
Lithuanian hunters refuse a government request to shoot a wild bear in the capital
WARSAW, Poland -- A young female bear caused a stir after wandering out of the forest and into the leafy suburbs of the Lithuanian capital. For two days, the brown bear ambled through the neighborhoods of Vilnius, trotted across highways and explored backyards — all while being chased by onlookers with smartphones and, eventually, drones. The government then issued a permit for the bear to be shot and killed. That did not go down well with Lithuania's hunters who, aware that there is only a tiny number of the protected species in the entire country, refused. The Lithuanian Association of Hunters and Fishermen said it was shocked by the government order. The association's administrator, Ramutė Juknytė, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the bear was a beautiful young female who was about 2 years old and did not deserve to be shot. 'She was scared but not aggressive. She just didn't know how to escape the city but she didn't do anything bad,' he said. The organization tracks the movements of bears. It believes there is only five to 10 bears in the Baltic nation, but does not have a precise number. The drama began on Saturday when the bear entered the capital. It was the first time in many years that a bear had entered the city and it became a national story. The animal came within about 4-5 kilometers (about 2-3 miles) of the city center. Since causing a stir with their permit to kill the bear, Lithuanian authorities have been on the defensive. Deputy Environment Minister Ramūnas Krugelis said that a kill permit was issued purely as a precaution in case the bear posed a threat, according to a report by the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT. The hunters proposed a more humane approach: sedation, tracking and relocation. As the debate over the bear's fate unfolded, she took matters into her own paws and wandered out of the city. Juknytė said that the bear was recorded by a camera on Wednesday, peacefully wandering through a forest some 60 kilometers (40 miles) from Vilnius while munching on corn. Brown bears are native to the region and were once common. They were wiped out in Lithuania in the 19th century due to hunting and habitat loss. In recent years they have started reappearing in small numbers, typically wandering in from neighboring countries like Latvia and Belarus, where small bear populations still exist. Bears are protected under Lithuanian and EU law as they are considered a rare and vulnerable species in the region.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
PJ folk object to MRT3 alignment proposal
A PROPOSAL to bring the MRT3 alignment into parts of Petaling Jaya, Selangor, has drawn objections from some residents over health and environmental concerns. A town hall session was held in Section 14 by Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran to explain the proposal. Rajiv said he and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung had worked with Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to draw up the proposed route. According to a map displayed during the session, the proposed route cuts across Taman Jaya and Jalan Kemajuan next to Section 13 and Section 16 (refer to map). 'The proposal has been sent to the Federal Government but no decision has been made yet,' said Rajiv. 'The route will service two areas namely Section 13 and PJ Sentral, which have been seeing massive increase in commercial and industrial activities.' The assemblyman said the city needed more public transportation to cope with increased traffic and residents. 'More workers from other areas are coming into Petaling Jaya. It is better that they come by train than by car,' he stressed. However, some residents were unhappy with his explanation. Selva says the proposed alignment barely enters Section 13. Section 14 Residents Association chairman Selva Sugumaran Perumal said the proposed alignment barely entered Section 13. 'The route should go into Section 13 proper, as well as Section 17, to serve residents in those areas. 'Also, PJ Sentral is already served by (Asia Jaya and Taman Jaya) LRT stations. 'Why does it need more public transportation?' Selva also said that Rajiv, Chung and MBPJ should have consulted local communities before submitting the proposal to the Federal Government. D'Cruz is concerned about noise pollution. Another resident Andre D. D'Cruz, who lives near the Asia Jaya LRT station, expressed concern about noise. 'I have made complaints but they have not been addressed. 'Can the authorities guarantee similar issues won't recur if MRT3 is routed through this area?' he questioned. Other concerns raised were the loss of Petaling Jaya's green lung, while a suggestion was made to enhance feeder bus coverage and demand-responsive transit (DRT). Rajiv resplied that feeder buses and DRT could only go so far in alleviating traffic congestion in the city. He also stressed that there was a need to balance between environmental concerns and socioeconomic needs. On questions about the locations and sizes of the MRT3 stations, Rajiv said these would be finalised by MRT Corp later. Also known as Circle Line, the MRT3 alignment is a 51km rail loop cutting across major townships in the Klang Valley. The current alignment has 32 planned stations and does not include the locations in Rajiv's proposal. The project will be connected to 10 existing MRT, LRT, KTM and Monorail stations. It is expected to start in 2027 and be fully operational by 2032. MRT1 (Kajang Line) links Sungai Buloh and Kajang while MRT2 (Putrajaya Line) links Kwasa Damansara and Putrajaya Sentral.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Attainable Homes Calgary bringing 230 below-market townhomes to former David D. Oughton School site
Article content The homes will range in price, according to Tait, with one-bedroom units selling for around $170,000 and five-bedroom homes selling for between $300,000 and $330,000, which is well below market rates. Article content There are currently hundreds of Calgarians on Attainable Homes Calgary's wait list, according to Tait, who said the non-profit has helped more than 1,100 families buy a home in the last 15 years. Article content 'The intent is for people that work hard, are on fixed incomes,' he said. 'We're looking for people that contribute very strongly to Calgary's economy, Calgary's cultural life, that just can't be in a market home right now, so we use that income eligibility limit to guide our sale decisions.' Article content There are also rules in place to prohibit owners from renting out their units, running a home-based business or secondary suite, or operating their townhome as a short-term vacation rental. Article content Article content 'We make sure that these aren't used as investment properties,' Tait said. 'The owner lives in the unit and we've got protections in place to ensure that happens.' Article content To help families afford the homes, Tait said Attainable Homes Calgary runs a down payment assistance loan program. Through the program, the non-profit's clients only need to contribute an initial $2,000. The agency then loans whatever is required for the buyer to reach the federally mandated five per cent minimum down payment. The interest-free loan is returned when the buyer eventually sells the home. Article content CMLC looking into developing park-and-ride lots along LRT In addition to the former David D. Oughton site, CMLC president and CEO Kate Thompson said the civic partner is advancing several other housing initiatives on municipally owned land. At Wednesday's event, she mentioned CMLC is exploring the feasibility of developing transit-oriented communities (TOCs) along the CTrain network, specifically the city-owned park-and-ride lots at the Anderson, Fish Creek-Lacombe and Dalhousie stations. The first phase of community engagement for those potential projects will begin this month, according to Thompson, who added additional surveys and engagement will follow as site analysis progresses. CMLC is also progressing its East Village master plan, with four residential projects featuring more than 900 homes currently moving through the city's regulatory processes. Construction of the first 162 of those units will begin later this year as part of Bankside Properties' Library Square project, which Thompson noted will include two six-storey residential dwellings just east of the central library. Article content
