JOHOR BARU: With the Johor Baru-Kuala Lumpur Electric Train Service (ETS) beginning operations, the state government has been urged to improve access to both the Kempas Baru and JB Sentral stations to prevent further congestion in the city.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia president Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah said the ETS’ success here depends greatly on how easy it is for commuters to reach both stations.
“The first-mile experience is everything. If people find it difficult or time-consuming to get to the station, they will simply choose to drive,” he said.
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Prof Muhammad Zaly said immediate steps should include improving the pedestrian walkways and lighting, and putting up clear signages around Kempas Baru and JB Sentral.
“Feeder buses must follow ETS departure and arrival schedules. This will give commuters a real alternative to driving and remove the need for parking.
“Proper traffic management during peak periods is also needed so that cars and buses do not get stuck outside station entrances,” he said.
He said improving bus services and introducing dedicated station shuttles would also help ease travel to the two stations.
“If the public sees that taking the bus is faster than spending 20 minutes looking for parking, they will switch,” he said.
He also said targeted road improvements around Kempas and the city centre could significantly reduce bottlenecks without the need for large-scale projects.
Prof Muhammad Zaly also suggested park-and-ride facilities, especially at Kempas Baru where land is more available.
“For JB Sentral, it makes more sense to build satellite parking outside the city centre. Bringing more cars into the congested core will only worsen traffic.
“These parking areas must be linked with high-frequency shuttles so people don’t feel the need to drive into the city,” he added.
On the new Gemas-Johor Baru ETS 3 service, he said it would serve as the backbone of Johor’s long-term mobility network and as such, other transport modes must support it.
“Projects such as the proposed E-ART, micro-mobility lanes and pedestrian upgrades should all feed directly into the stations.
“Transit-oriented development around Kempas can turn the area into a walkable, mixed-use district that depends less on cars.
“If we align these long-term plans, the ETS will help reduce congestion instead of adding more pressure to the city’s already strained road network,” he added.
