Saturday, December 13, 2014

Got traffic congestion build a combi subway, light rail network, Saigon, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam has  embarked on a 155 billion (US) light rail system to ease road congestion.
                       
Lam On  Square now

Lam On Square then
                                                             













Saigon, traffic, traffic and more traffic.

The 19.7 km first phase of this is now in progress (construction Lam On Square) at a cost of 1.3 billion (US) and due to be operational by 2017/18. This first line will run on what is thought to be the cities major traffic route, Ben Thanh Market to dist 9 and with a daily capacity of 160,000 people. Ticket prices will be 2,500 dong or about .16 US which is a little less than the 3,000 dong for a bus ticket are at present.

In total the completed modern 6 line system will spread out across 67 miles of track.  Estimated completion is in 2020.

In conjunction with all this a bus-to rapid transit system is due to leap into action in 2018 with newly built designated bus routes and updated facilities.  It is thought to have the capacity of handling 620,000 passengers per day at a building cost of 1.35 billion.


Artist conception of one of the
new terminals.

Artist conception of the
downtown terminal.



Artist conception of  pedestrian mall
Saigon city center.

Which leads us up to the big question, if only 5 % of 
Saigon's population is utilizing mass transit at present
is all this stuff enough to make them park the 
motorbike or that new car.

The problem with the present mass transit (buses) 
is the sirly drivers and assistants, ill maintained 
buses and facilities.  A long with a stigma 
associated with bus ridership associated with
riding the bus because you were too big a 
loser to afford a motorbike or now for some, 
a car. Not sure how these new facilities 
will be at addressing these things.

So for now the only sure thing is that big money 
is being spent while the historical and significant
values of old Saigon are being decimated.





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