PENANG TO CONDUCT AUDIT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES

PENANG (Malaysia), Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Penang will be the first state to
conduct a full audit of its public transport facilities as it develops a
comprehensive blueprint to improve access and mobility for persons with
disabilities (PWDs) by 2010.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Resident
Representative (Programme) James George said Thursday that forming the base of
the blueprint, the audit would assess accessibility of PWDs to
transportation.

"This includes the assessment of buses, taxis, trains, ferries and
airplanes
as well as facilities at pick-up points, stations and terminals with emphasis on
interconnectivity between the different modes of public transport," he said at
the launch of the "Transport for Persons with Disabilities - Support of the
Development of Accessible Transport in Penang" project here.

The project was launched by state Local Government, Traffic Management and
Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

George said the findings of the study would form the basis to develop an
accessible public transport improvement master plan.

"Other measures that will be introduced under the project include a public
awareness campaign as well as the establishment of a demand responsive
door-to-door transport service for PWDs," he said.

He said the two-year pilot project was jointly developed by the Penang
Economic Planning Unit and the UNDP with the support of Women, Family and
Community Development Ministry to boost the economic and social independence of
PWDs.

Penang is a state in Malaysia, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular
Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca.

-- BERNAMA