What's Changing in Penang Transport

Penang's first light-rail line is being built by MRT Corp and funded by the federal government. The state describes it as a 29.67 km viaduct with 22 stations, costing RM16.8 billion. It runs from Silicon Island in the south, past Penang International Airport and Bandar Sri Pinang to KOMTAR, then crosses the strait on a 6 km marine bridge to Penang Sentral in Butterworth.

Work began with a groundbreaking at Bandar Sri Pinang in January 2025. In June 2026 the state said the Bandar Sri Pinang and airport stations were the most advanced sites, and that the airport station will have a link bridge to the airport's new terminal. MRT Corp's project director has said Penang Sentral to KOMTAR should take about 8 minutes once it runs.

It won't carry passengers during a 2026 or 2027 trip. What you will see is construction along the route, with the box-girder segments due to go up through 2028. The state has said most of that installation will be done at night.

Malaysia Airports (MAHB) is expanding the airport from 6.5 million to 12 million passengers a year. As of the state's July 2026 update after a MAHB briefing, the first package (support buildings, utilities and a remote digital tower) was complete, the airside works (apron, taxilanes, drainage and lighting) were about 70% done, and procurement for the main terminal expansion had opened on 25 June 2026.

What it means for a visit now: the terminal you use in 2026 and 2027 is the existing one, so expect construction around it. Already in place: a dedicated e-hailing pick-up zone on the ground floor of the car park opposite the main terminal, and immigration autogates. See our Penang airport guide.

A federally funded upgrade of KTM Butterworth station will add escalators to both platforms and separate pick-up from drop-off. In January 2026 the state said it was at tender evaluation. The 200-metre air-conditioned walkway between the station and Penang Sentral has reopened, and Grab pick-up at Penang Sentral has moved to Level 2A.

Arriving by train? See getting to Penang by train.

Penang Port Commission's ferry page now lists an adult pedestrian fare of RM 2.00 (RM 1.00 for children 5–11), with free travel for children aged 4 and under and for OKU passengers, charged on every crossing in both directions. That is higher than the RM 1.20 still shown on Penang Sentral's own ferry page and in many older guides. Go by Penang Port's figure and its listed payment methods.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) raised public parking charges in March 2025 to 60 sen per half hour, RM 1.20 an hour and RM 9 a day, and said it would bring in time limits in busy areas such as parts of Lebuh Chulia and Little India. In August 2026 the state cancelled out-of-bay parking compounds issued by its automatic number-plate (ANPR) cameras. Enforcement for parking outside a bay is now done by officers on the ground. The cancellation doesn't cover no-parking zones, no-stopping zones or causing an obstruction.

Driving yourself? Read our driving and parking guide.

Heritage zone one-way streets. Since 7 September 2025, Beach Street between Downing Street and Chulia Street, and Church Street Ghaut from Beach Street to Weld Quay, are one-way. MBPP warned that Waze and Google Maps may take time to catch up.

The Light City access. An elevated road from Jalan Tunku Kudin (Bayan Lepas-bound) opened in July 2025, and a one-way flyover giving George Town-bound drivers direct access to The Light Waterfront opened in November 2025. PWCC is in The Light City. See getting to the convention centres.

Air Itam bypass. A bypass linking Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway is under construction. Beam-launching closed the Jalan Thean Teik–Jalan Angsana junction overnight on several nights in December 2025 and January 2026. We haven't seen an opening date in an official source.