Future of LRT in public consultation, South line confirms absence of ferry station

The Public Works Bureau (DSOP) has launched a public consultation on the future development of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system.

The public consultation comes, as previously announced by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raymond Tam, after the working group in charge of analyzing the best routes for the development reached a conclusion on the routes for the South line, West line, and extension lines, namely the Seac Pai Van line to Coloane Village.

The document now under public scrutiny confirms some of the information previously shared with the Times by representatives of the Jetfoil Conservation Concern Group (JCCG).

Last year, the group told the Times that the government had abandoned the idea of including an LRT station to serve the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, suggesting the possible abandonment of the structure for mass transportation.

The route now proposed for the South line (Peninsula line) would start at Barra Station and proceed to Sai Van Station (to be located near the Fire Bureau headquarters) and then to Praia Grande Station, which would potentially be erected on the idle land plots around the North shore of Nam Van Lake.

After this, the line would move to 24 de Junho Station to arrive at the area of Praceta 24 de Junho (between MGM Macau and Wynn Macau) and continue to NAPE Station (potentially located at Alameda Dr. Carlos de Assumpção Park, in front of Kun Iam Statue).

Proposed LRT routes and stations under public consultation [Photo; Map by Renato Marques]

If, until this point, the plan follows a route more or less mature and long-debated, it’s the last section where surprises arise. The government is now proposing to skip all areas east of NAPE and the Ferry Terminal (previously planned stations at Golden Lotus Square and Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal) and move from NAPE straight to a final section linking to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Port, stopping only at the Station South of East line (also known as ES5).

It was also announced that the extension of the Seac Pai Van line up to Coloane Village is expected to include three stations: the first at Giant Panda Pavilion, followed by Lai Chi Vun, and a final station at Coloane Village.

For this line, the public consultation document notes that the project is being considered for short-term implementation.
“Given the minor geographical limitations and relatively low complexity of implementation, this project can be considered a short-term implementation,” the document reads, in contrast to the South line, which is considered medium-term.

Also new is that the government is considering operating the South line completely separately from the other lines and, in this case, introducing a whole new system including the trains and tracks. This, in turn, would require the construction of a new workshop for this line, whose location has not been proposed.

As for the West line, linking Qingmao Port to Barra via the Inner Harbour, it is proposed that this line have four stops: the first at Fai Chi Kei, a second in Patane, a third at the end of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, and another in the Saint Laurence area (near the seaside).

The DSOP classifies this project as long-term, given the expected difficulties in work progress and the need to coordinate this work with flood prevention efforts.

For this reason, it is proposed that this line be implemented in phases, with a first phase linking Qingmao Port to Fai Chi Kei, given its priority and medium-term development.

As for the Taipa North and Taipa Center lines, the Taipa North would basically function as an extension of the current Taipa line, linking Ocean Station to Zone C of the new landfills and Zone D of the new landfills (just beginning construction), with two stations, one at each end (D1 and D2). From there, the line links to the East line at Pac On Station.

A Taipa Center line would serve as a circular link between the current Taipa line and the future Taipa North line.

This line would start at Jockey Club Station (Taipa line) and run through the center to Taipa Central Park Station and Esparteiro Station (tentatively located on the former Ocean World land plot). From there, the line would connect to D1 Station of Taipa North.

As in the case of the South line (Macau Peninsula), the government proposes a completely different system for the Taipa Center line, which would also require the construction of a new workshop.

This line would also connect to the fifth sea crossing between Taipa and the Peninsula, which would be built as a tunnel linking Zone D1 to Zone B of the new landfills at the eastern side of Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge, where a parking area for buses is currently located.

The public consultation was launched on January 23 (Friday) and will run until February 28.

Gov’t lacks study linking Citizens’ Sports Park to LRT

The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) network development strategy, now open for public consultation with six proposed route plans, has prompted a civil engineer–cum–legislator to recommend a longer-term study on extending the system from the upcoming “Citizens’ Sports Park Station” into older districts; however, authorities have indicated that no such study is currently planned.

The first public consultation session was held on Friday for lawmakers, public sector representatives, and Urban Renewal Committee members, with attendees promptly made available for media interviews.

Among those present, lawmaker Leong Hong Sai raised concerns regarding the construction of the LRT South Line, which will feature seven stations, including Barra, Sai Van, Nam Van, Avenida 24 de Julho, NAPE, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge.

He believes the new line will enhance residents’ commuting and travel options while leveraging the network’s advantages as a public transport system. However, he also expressed concerns about the construction costs and future operational expenses of the system, as well as the potential introduction of commercial facilities at future stations, noting that the session did not thoroughly address these cost-related issues.

As a civil engineer, Leong believes the West Line plan can effectively address flooding issues in the Inner Harbour while increasing land supply in the city’s old district through engineering works and reclamation, helping to offset the shortage of recreational and municipal facilities.

He also recognized residents’ strong demand for an LRT station at the Citizens’ Sports Park and expressed hope that authorities would undertake long-term studies to explore extending the line from there into the old district.

Regarding the LRT route blueprint, which includes an extension of the Seac Pai Van Line to Coloane Village, media sources quoted Yeong Keng Hoi, vice president of the Coloane Residents Association, describing the extension as a “dream” and expressing hope that construction would be completed within two to three years.

A scholar reportedly pointed out that the LRT is expected to reach the outskirts of the area’s center, allowing passengers to explore the area or visit newer tourist attractions like the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion and Lai Chi Van Shipyards.

According to him, the proposed Seac Pai Van Line extension aims to meet tourism needs while minimizing impacts on Coloane’s landscape. YL