Six months after launching, Penang’s free hospital shuttle is carrying twice the expected passengers at nearly half the originally projected cost.
The Central Area Transit (CAT) hospital route, run by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) with Rapid Penang, now serves about 600 riders daily, up from roughly 300 when it started on 1 January. MBPP allocates RM900,000 annually for the service, well below the RM1.7 million estimated when the route was announced in November last year.
The eight-kilometre route links Komtar with four healthcare facilities: Penang Hospital, Island Hospital, Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre, and Klinik Kesihatan Macalister. Three Rapid Penang buses make 36 trips daily between 6am and 8pm, running at 20-minute intervals.
MBPP Engineering Director Cheah Chin Kooi said the service targets patients, senior citizens, and caregivers who face persistent parking shortages around the hospital district.
“The eight-kilometre route is served by three Rapid Penang buses operating daily from 6 am to 8 pm, making 36 trips at 20-minute intervals,” he told reporters after inspecting the service.
The lower-than-expected cost reflects coordination with Rapid Penang on route planning and operations. The original RM1.7 million estimate, announced by Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran during MBPP’s full board meeting, was based on preliminary projections before the service was tested on the ground.
Penang Hospital director Dr Goh Hin Kwang said the hospital has upgraded the pedestrian walkway along Jalan Residensi and is improving the main entrance on Jalan Utama to help passengers reach the bus stops more easily.
The shuttle is part of Penang’s Age-Friendly City push, which aims to make public spaces more accessible for older residents and persons with disabilities. Community groups have raised concerns about coverage beyond the hospital corridor.
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) previously called for more pick-up points in low-cost housing areas and shorter walking distances to hospital registration counters. Retiree Gurmeet Kaur suggested deploying shuttle vans for senior citizens and extending routes to Pengkalan Weld and Bayan Baru.
With ridership climbing and costs coming in under budget, the question is whether MBPP can sustain the momentum and expand the model to other parts of the city where public transport access remains limited.
