JOHOR BARU: Johor could be getting an elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system soon to disperse traffic from the upcoming Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link), says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said his ministry presented the proposal for an elevated ART to the Cabinet in December last year.
“The Cabinet has decided that the Private Public Partnership Unit will call for an RFP (request for proposal).
“Meaning we want to work with the private sector through a private-public partnership for the project,” he said during a press conference at a hotel here on Thursday (Feb 13).
Loke added that the RFP for the elevated ART would be called soon and that the project was following the Johor government’s proposal.
“An elevated ART is more flexible as the lanes could be utilised by rail and bus. It is also easier and faster to build as compared to a Light Rapid Transit system,” he said.
In April last year, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi proposed an elevated ART, adding that it had received the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Loke was asked to comment on the proposal when attending the signing ceremony of the Bukit Chagar integrated mixed-use development project worth RM2.6bil.
The integrated development, jointly developed by MRT Corporation and Sunway Group, would be located adjacent to the upcoming Bukit Chagar RTS Link station and the newly built immigration, customs and quarantine complex.
The RTS Link is slated for completion on Dec 31, 2026.
