Experts urge pedestrian-focused solutions to tackle traffic woes

Transportation experts are demanding urgent upgrades and offering innovative transit solutions amid ongoing traffic congestion and a lack of infrastructural development.

The call to action from the Transport Advisory Committee follows a record-breaking Golden Week holiday that saw 850,000 mainland visitors flood Macau’s 13-square-mile territory – equivalent to 65 tourists per resident.

During a TDM Macau Forum radio show earlier this week, three experts shared their insights and offered what they believed to be relevant and accessible solutions to address the city’s gridlock.

Wong Chiu U, from the Northern District Community Service Consultative Council, highlighted the strain on casino shuttle services, noting, “Even with tripled casino shuttles, we had two-hour queues at the Border Gate during peak hours.”

When questioned about immediate fixes for summer crowds, Wong estimated that residents will need to rely on traditional travel patterns, namely buses and shuttle buses. He added, “There is a need to increase frequency – especially during peak hours.”

Wong also stressed: “Priority must be given to locals’ needs, not tourists. Residents shouldn’t have to trek to the Border Gate just to find a cab.”

Despite government efforts – including expanded casino shuttle buses and construction of the LRT East Line – peak-hour bottlenecks persist.

“These are temporary fixes. Our road capacity is finite,” added Wong.

Taxi shortages and road network limitations exacerbate delays. Traffic concerns continue to frustrate commuters, with some reporting 20-minute–plus waits for taxis during rush hour.

Ku Heng Cheong, a Transport Advisory Committee member, stated, “Tourists sometimes take the same bus routes that residents also take […] to explore local areas […] the time of tourists and residents taking the same route might coincide – causing resource competition.”

Ku said the city’s LRT system will not reach full capacity until 2028 – emphasizing the need for interim solutions to ease congestion and improve comfort for visitors.

“Until then, we need dedicated shuttles for tourist hotspots and air-conditioned pedestrian skywalks to beat the heat,” Ku said. He cited government data showing that enhanced pedestrian networks have already reduced rush-hour congestion by 18% in pilot areas.

Wong then highlighted the success of the pedestrian skywalks in Seac Pai Van – located south of the Cotai Strip toward the northeastern part of Coloane – where he cited the segregated skywalks as having reduced pedestrian–vehicle traffic obstructions by 73%.

“The new East Zone 1 development needs this blueprint,” he insisted, referring to the Areia Preta reclamation area, which houses 50,000 residents and still faces high levels of road traffic.

Ku highlighted the ongoing construction of the Northeast Avenue Sky Corridor as a key example.

As a model project, Ku advocates for integrating cooling features – such as mist sprays and shaded rest areas – into new skywalks, noting that these measures will ensure their use – drawing reference to advanced pedestrian skywalk systems seen in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“We need to boost public adoption by making these walkways more comfortable – especially during the hot months,” Ku added.

Radical water

transport push

Urban planner Teng Kai On proposed expanding water transport to diversify transit options, stating, “With land disputes stalling road expansions, we could move 15% of commuters via water within five years.”

Teng also called for pedestrian bridges to be architecturally integrated into major developments – citing The Londoner’s skywalk as proof of concept.

His suggestion includes pedestrian bridges built into luxury resorts. “By 2030, every major development should have interlinked walkways,” Teng said.

Implementation hurdles

While officials praised the Northeast Avenue Sky Corridor’s 2026 completion date, Teng warned of other challenges.

“We’re negotiating air rights with 23 property owners just for the Patane segment. Without compulsory purchases, progress will crawl.”

While newer ports – like Qingmao Port and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge Macau Port – have diverted some traffic, 70–80% of tourists still prefer to funnel through the Border Gate due to its central location and connectivity, leaving other ports underutilized.

As the conversation concluded, Teng told listeners: “We built parking for 240,000 vehicles but have 320,000 on the roads. Unless we get walking right, gridlock becomes permanent.”