ISKANDAR PUTERI: The proposed final alignment for the Elevated Automated Rapid Transit (E-ART) system is expected to be known in several months’ time, says a Johor executive councillor.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh (pic) said the E-ART would cover three main corridors – Skudai, Tebrau and Iskandar Puteri.
“These three corridors will be integrated at the main interchange station in Bukit Chagar to subsequently support the Rapid Transit Link (RTS),” he said in reply to Datuk Ramlee Bohani (BN-Kempas) who asked about the government’s measures in addressing worsening traffic congestion in Johor Baru at the state Legislative Assembly here yesterday.
He added that the E-ART initiative was subject to the outcome of the Request for Proposal (RFP) assessment.
“The Public Private Partnership Unit has initiated the RFP process for the implementation of the E-ART system, aimed at completing the integrated transport system in Greater Johor Baru.
“The proposed final alignment is expected to be known as early as August of this year, subject to the outcome of the RFP evaluation,” Mohamad Fazli said.
He added that the implementation of the E-ART is expected to provide significant benefits in reducing traffic congestion, enhancing daily mobility and supporting the state’s low-carbon agenda.
He also said the state government has drawn up a traffic dispersal plan by setting up the Greater JB Traffic Dispersal Special Committee, a state-level special committee formed to identify congestion hotspots and draft traffic dispersal plans.
“So far, 77 congestion areas have been identified, and action has been taken at more than 20 locations.
“The committee has also proposed measures such as installing lane barriers, traffic info boards and enforcement during peak hours, which have been presented in the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Congestion and Safety.
“One of the hotspots where a dispersal plan has been implemented is the closure of Jalan Ledang heading to the Skudai Highway (exit from Taman Johor to Skudai), which has successfully reduced traffic congestion in the area,” he said.
Mohamad Fazli added the government was reviewing the need to increase road capacity, including road widening, the construction of new bypasses and regular maintenance.
He said this was to ensure that the traffic system can accommodate the growing number of vehicles and rapid development in the Johor Baru area.
Meanwhile, state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the government has committed to building 100,000 units of affordable houses by 2030, with 16,845 units already completed as of the first quarter of this year.
“The state government remains committed to achieving our target of 30,000 units by 2026, and the momentum will continue to reach 100,000 units by the end of this decade,” he said in reply to Muszaide Makmor (BN-Sedili), Mohd Yusla Ismail (BN-Senggarang) and Ng Kor Sim (PH-Jementah).
He added that the plan includes efforts to expand projects under the Rumah Kasih Johor and Rumah Prihatin Johor programmes, which aim to support low-income groups.
