DBKL looks at reducing number of parking spaces

KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is looking into reducing the number of parking spaces in a bid to lessen traffic congestion in the city.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said this during the 5th International Conference on World-Class Sustainable Cities 2013 (WCSC 2013) held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur recently.

Ahmad Phesal said more attention should be given to upgrading existing public transport services as reducing traffic congestion in the city would contribute to improving the economic well-being of the nation and people.

“Once the MRT and LRT projects are completed in 2017, we are hoping to achieve a 40:60 ratio, with at least 40% of citizens using public transportation into and within the city centre.

“One of the initiatives to achieving this is reducing parking spaces in areas, which are less than 200m away from public transportation.

“For example, the proposed upgrading of Lebuh Ampang will involve less parking spaces as it is near the Masjid Jamek LRT station,” he said.

He added that for people to increase their reliance on public transportation, existing and upcoming projects should be up to the mark.

About 600 participants attended the WCSC 2013 conference, which was co-organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur branch (RehdaKL), the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM). The conference was endorsed by DBKL.

This year’s conference was themed “Liveable Cities are Creative & Competitive Cities” and featured an international line-up of speakers from Denmark, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Rehda president Datuk Seri Michael KC Yam said: “The main objectives of WCSC has always been to engage the public on the key issues faced in promoting and achieving a ‘World Class City’ status, to learn about international best practices and apply them to Kuala Lumpur.

“After five years of hosting the conference, we have certainly seen tremendous change in shifting public perceptions on projects in the city.”

Meanwhile, Rehda KL treasurer and chairman of WCSC 2013 Chan Kin Meng said that KL had the right ingredients to make it a key city on an international scale.

“We are working closely with DBKL and other stakeholders to turn Kuala Lumpur into a global player,” he said.

In conjunction with WCSC 2013, a photography and essay competition was also organised to create awareness and gather views.