A coalition of public interest groups in Penang believes a plan by the Municipal Council of Penang Island's (MPPP) to build a RM10.5 million multi-storey car park on Victoria Street will undermine efforts to move towards public transportation.

On the contrary, said Citizens for Public Transport (Cepat), the proposed car park will not only encourage more commuters to drive their cars into the city, but will also be a waste of public funds.

"A RM10 million car park is an expensive solution to a problem which can be solved in cheaper ways, is contrary to the state government's own policy on traffic management in the inner city ... and against current trends in other urban centres," it said in a statement yesterday.

"In our view, the expenditure will be a waste of public funds," reads the statement signed by Cepat member Ahmad Cik.

Traffic congestion in the area surrounding Victoria Street, said Cepat, is caused not so much by the lack of car parks as the poor enforcement of traffic regulations. Such moves as clamping or towing away the cars of violators will reduce the problem considerably, it added.

MPPP should look into maximising the use of the under-utilised nearby car parks, such as those on Union Street and the Weld Quay.

The expenditure by MPPP would amount to an estimated RM62,500 for each of the 160 cars to be accommodated by the proposed car park.

'High-turnover' car parking system

MPPP should also revise its current parking fees - which Cepat said are "very low" when compared to those of Kuala Lumpur - to reflect the true costs of parking facilities, generate more revenue, encourage the development of private car parks, and discourage the entry of cars into the inner city.

The problem of the many illegally parked cars in the inner city - which Cepat said is because of those who need just a few minutes for an errand at the bank, post office, or governments - can be resolved by devising a 'high-turnover' car parking system.

"Motorists who park for a longer period are either fined or charged a prohibitively high fee," the coalition proposed.

Cepat also suggested using the proposed site of the car park for a bus station to replace the current location at Weld Quay where buses are stopping. The traffic congestion caused by the buses stopping there is not only an eye-sore and an inconvenience, but also raises safety issues.

"A modern bus terminal built nearby will not only change all this but will also be consonant with our long-term objective of making the inner-city a liveable, traffic-free, and pollution-free precinct."