Macao Light Rapid Transit Corporation, Limited (MLM) is directly responsible for the operations and maintenance assistance services of the MLRT from 1 April 2024.

The original proposal for the LRT was criticized by the public for being unable to handle the needs of Macau citizens, obstructing important views of the city, and also for being not cost-effective.

Then Secretariat for Transport and Public Works Au Man Long decided to suspend plans for the LRT on 15 April 2003, citing the economic downturn caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak at the time.

Based on the second feasibility study and public opinion regarding it, the Macau SAR government in October 2006 released the Detailed Research Program for MLRT report that outlines a route for the LRT similar to the Phase I Line today.

The Macau SAR Government, after considering the opinions of the public, called for the construction of the LRT in November 2007 after publishing their optimization program report months earlier.

[8] Under the plan, Phase I (Macau–Taipa Line) would connect major entry-exit points at the Macau Peninsula and the Taipa Island with residential and tourist areas.

The LRT is expected to improve transportation options between the Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Cotai, and relieve traffic congestion on roads and bridges.

Several changes were made to the plan, including reducing the number of stations to 21 and building part of the LRT running along Nam Van Lake underground or at the surface level.

In December 2010, the government announced that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was chosen to provide the rolling stock and the system for the LRT, with a winning bid of 4.68 billion Macau Patacas.

[22][23] Macao Light Rapid Transit Corporation, Limited (MLM) is directly responsible for the operations and maintenance assistance services of the MLRT from 1 April 2024.

However, in May 2018, the Macau authorities cancelled the contract to purchase an additional 48 carriages from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and were required to compensate 360 million patacas.

[32] LRT cars are serviced and stored at Macao Light Rapid Transit Depot next to Macau International Airport and across from Wynn Palace in Cotai.