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Public Transportation at the State Level. Planning and Design of Public Transport Infrastructure By Moaz Yusuf Ahmad. Challenges faced in Selangor. Emphasis on car travel (often single-occupancy) in Malaysia (status symbol) Limited investment in public transit/transport
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Public Transportation at the State Level Planning and Design of Public Transport Infrastructure By Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
Challenges faced in Selangor • Emphasis on car travel (often single-occupancy) in Malaysia (status symbol) • Limited investment in public transit/transport • Mainly suburban and exurban communities with large population • Communities usually surrounded by expressways and divided by wide “express-roads” • Trip generators are often separated from each other discourages public transport encourages car use
Challenges faced in Selangor • High traffic volume and incomplete roads (creates gridlock within existing road system) • Older, high density urban areas not designed for large volumes of automobile traffic • Klang • Petaling Jaya • Failure of existing infrastructure or costly maintenance (MRRII flyover, Klang bridges) • Cannot keep pace with development
LRT is a high-cost, low mobility solution • High cost of LRT construction • Cost estimated at RM 150-200 million per km • Full elevation requires large elevated station structure • Number of lines is limited due to high costs • Lines will often run through industrial areas, TNB corridors, or along rivers • Service to housing estates will be unpopular • Little or no reduction in the use of single-occupancy vehicles within communities • Still requires additional feeder bus network plus parking structures at stations potential for traffic congestion • Potential for negative impact of LRT on community
“Quick wins” - Low-cost, high mobility solutions • Invest in Community-Based Public Transport • Shuttle Bus Services to bring public transport to the people
“Quick wins” - Low-cost, high mobility solutions • Direct express bus routes and feeder bus routes to link communities to LRT (LembahSubang) and KTM lines • Encourages passenger demand to develop • Greater cost recovery = lower subsidy • Build new station on Kelana Jaya LRT line at existing LembahSubang Depot • Guideway, tracks and station already in place • Reduces pressure on Kelana Jaya station and existing bus routes, roads
A low-cost, high mobility solution • Restricted Rights-Of-Way are constructed in the outside and/or centre lanes of major arterial roads • Allows public transit vehicles to move faster • Improves reliability of public transit service • Encourages use of public transit for more trips • Overhead bridges will connect passengers safely to clearly visible, safer public transit stops • Increased flexibility: transit vehicles can operate in restricted ROW (Class A/B) or in mixed traffic (C) • Saves money by reducing delays, construction costs
Restricted bus Right-of-Way Orange Line, Los Angeles, CA (USA) TransJakarta, Jakarta (Indonesia) TransMilenio, Bogata (Columbia)
Grass-covered, restricted right-of-way Kenosha, WI (USA) Le Mans (France) Madrid (Spain)
Stations located in existing centre median Bus Rapid Transit, Beijing (China) TransJakarta, Jakarta (Indonesia) TransMilenio, Bogata (Columbia)
Benefits over LRT option • ‘Impian LRT’ leads us to ignore other options • Kelana Jaya LRT currently 40% overcapacity • Confusion over State and National Government plans for extension of Kelana Jaya LRT (Shah Alam or USJ) • Immediate need for public transportation improvements oil, petrol price increases • Faster planning and construction period
Benefits over LRT option • Lower cost of construction • Travels along existing roads already owned by government • Cost estimated at RM 20 million per km (bus) to 40-50 million per km (Rapid Tram) • Ramps, overhead bridges allow universal accessibility • Build more lines for the same amount of money • 4km of Rapid Tram or 10km of Rapid Bus vs. 1km of LRT • More lines increases mobility for Subang Jaya residents • More money can be devoted to improving feeder bus network and KTM Komuter service • Positive effect on community
Bus or Rail? Saarbruken LRT/Bus interchange (Netherlands)
Conclusion • Traffic congestion is causing significant economic and social problems for communities in Selangor • Solutions must allow various options for residents • Planning must include transit options, mixed-uses, higher densities Transit-Oriented Developments • Restricted Right-Of-Way (Class A/B ROW) improves reliability of public transit modes (compare LRT vs. bus on-time performance, reliability) • Based on cost-benefit analysis, Rapid Tram in Class A/B ROW is the best transit mode for communities in Selangor with the exception of high-density urban communities
Sources • Selangor 2020 Draft Structural and MPSJ Local Plan • DBKL 2020 Infrastructure Plan • National Physical Plan (Transportation) • RapidKL, Prasarana • Urban Rail, Railway Technology • Skyscrapercity.com, usj.com.my, residents • Archived photos including personal collection
Moaz Yusuf Ahmad 012-248-3330 SS17, Subang Jaya Moaz.ahmad@gmail.com moaz.a@taylors.edu.my Thank you for your Time