Residents concerned with air quality inside LRT’s trains and track

Participants in a Light Rapid Transit (LRT) consultation session yesterday, which focused on environment-related issues on the Northern segment, expressed concerns over the air quality inside some sealed sections of the LRT track and the trains.
The Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) stated that there are already measures in place to ensure that the air quality meets international standards.
The air quality concerns were raised by a member from the Macau Environmental Protection and Management Association.
“How has GIT evaluated the heat and pressure inside a sealed [segment] of the track? Also, in an [LRT] car with 200 to 400 people, how does the government evaluate the indoor air quality?” – the resident asked.
In answering the question, Ng Keng Chung from GIT first reiterated that only some segments of the track that are particularly close to residential buildings will be totally sealed with sound proofing shields.
“In the design, we will leave an opening after a certain distance. The function of these openings is for emergency scenarios where firefighters can enter [the track].
“Also, when the LRT trains are passing by these openings, it will lead to the piston effect and create air flow, which will prevent the accumulation of air or heat.”
Moreover, Ng Keng Chung pointed out that the capacity for every train, according to their design, is 100 passengers. He said that the air conditioning system used in the trains is capable of handling a larger amount of passengers than the designated capacity of the car, while still meeting the international standard in terms of air quality.
Furthermore, another resident also enquired about the environmental impact of the LRT construction process and asked the authorities whether there supervising measures are sufficient.
GIT chief Lei Chan Tong replied that, similar to the construction that is taking place in Taipa, there will be an independent third party that will monitor the environmental condition of the construction site and directly report to GIT.
Ip Kuong Lam from the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) also claimed that there will be clauses in the tendering documents that compel the contractors to adopt certain measures to mitigate the environmental impact of the construction process.
Additionally, Mr Ip said that DSPA is drafting the consultation document for the future legislation on environmental evaluation. He estimated that the consultation will take place at the end of this year.