Addressing Phuket's Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion stands as one of the significant hurdles for Phuket’s tourism industry. In late February, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced two pivotal approaches to mitigate this pressing issue.

Governor Suwannarat revealed that a new expressway route has been sanctioned by the government. This route will link Muang Mai to Koh Kaew and extend to Kathu, including a tunnel from Kathu to Patong Beach. With an estimated budget of 60 billion baht, the project is slated for completion by 2029 and anticipated to be operational by 2030. The aim of this infrastructure development is to alleviate traffic congestion and improve convenience for tourists.

“Currently, Phuket’s traffic congestion frustrates tourists. However, within the next 3–4 years, we expect a smoother flow of traffic,” stated Governor Suwannarat.

Another critical strategy involves the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to oversee Phuket’s traffic system, modeled after Singapore’s successful approach. The province has initiated surveys at various intersections for camera installations and system integration, aiming to achieve a reduction in traffic congestion by 30-40% under a budget of 400 million baht.

“The system will feature a central control room acting as the brain, supervising 85 intersections across Phuket. Cameras will provide data to optimize traffic flow every 40 seconds, ensuring smooth movement,” he explained.

Beyond congestion relief, the AI system will bolster safety by integrating with all 11 police stations and 18 local agencies, enabling real-time incident responses. If implemented, Phuket will be the first province in Thailand to adopt such an advanced traffic management system.

Currently under study, a Phuket team is conducting research in Singapore to analyze the model and prepare a report for submission to the Ministry of Transport following four collaborative meetings. Government approval is pending, which, if granted, will lead to an estimated implementation period of four months.

Between 2017 and 2022, Singapore anticipated a rise in daily trips from 9 million to 16 million vehicles, potentially escalating to 20 million by 2030. This projected increase raised concerns about overwhelming the city’s infrastructure, making expansion inevitable—a costly endeavor.

To combat this, Singapore initiated Smart Mobility 2030, led by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The foundation of this initiative is AI technology, first introduced in 2006, which has enabled efficient traffic flow without substantial infrastructure expansion.

Phuket aims to emulate this success, harnessing AI to enhance intersection efficiency, decrease congestion, and improve overall traffic safety and efficiency.

Singapore’s AI traffic management system has demonstrated considerable improvements in several areas:

Time Efficiency

• Peak-hour travel time reduced by 20%
• Average travel speed increased from 18 km/h to 21 km/h
• Increased productivity for residents

Public Transport Improvements

• Public transport usage grew by 25% since 2020
• AI’s accurate travel time predictions have improved reliability
• Waiting times for buses and trains slashed by over 15%

Environmental Benefits

• 10% fuel savings for public transport due to reduced congestion
• 500,000 tons of CO₂ emissions reduced annually
• Over 10% reduction in PM2.5 air pollution

Cost Savings

• AI traffic solutions save $1 billion each year
• Additional savings of $500 million by avoiding costly new road projects

Phuket’s initiative aims to replicate Singapore’s achievements, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability in urban mobility.

Singapore’s triumphant traffic management system is founded on four main AI-driven solutions:

1. Intelligent Transport System (ITS): This system integrates data from various city points including real-time traffic cameras, GPS, and road sensors. AI analyzes this information to foresee traffic patterns, identify future congestion points, and dynamically adjust traffic signals.
   • The Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System (CRUISE) is a notable project within this framework, developed in collaboration with A*STAR’s Infocomm Research Institute, successfully tested between 2018 and 2020.
2. Electronic Road Pricing (ERP 2.0): This electronic toll collection system modifies toll fees based on current traffic conditions, encouraging alternate routes during high congestion times.
3. Public Transport Management: AI analyzes passenger demand to adjust bus and train frequencies, ensuring efficient public transport service.
4. Traffic Violation Monitoring: AI-enabled traffic cameras detect and record violations like speeding and illegal parking, using automatic license plate recognition to impose fines automatically.

Regardless of how Phuket’s AI-based traffic system develops or whether it incorporates elements from Singapore’s model, adopting this technology represents a groundbreaking initiative—the first comprehensive deployment of such a system in Thailand aimed at tackling traffic congestion effectively.

Based on an article from The Nation.

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