JOHOR BARU: The city’s growing urban population and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) warrant a high-capacity rail line and a public transportation system fully funded by the Federal Government, says a logistics and transportation expert.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia president Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah Muhammad Hussein said a high-capacity rail spine should be considered for Johor Baru’s busiest corridor, while using autonomous rapid transit (ART) or bus rapid transit (BRT) systems on lighter corridors.
“A more in-depth study should be conducted to determine what public transport system Johor Baru requires. This is crucial to securing funding for a project that aligns with the state’s long-term needs instead of opting for a less complex system simply because it may appear easier to finance.
“If Penang’s Light Rail Transit system merits 100% federal funding, then Johor Baru’s system deserves equal merit,” said the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying professor in an interview.
He said planners must take into account the city’s future transportation needs, particularly with the JS-SEZ, population growth and higher tourist arrivals expected to drive higher passenger demand over the coming decades.
He raised concerns about the timeline for the proposed Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (E-ART) project, saying there was insufficient time for the system to be operational before the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins service in January next year.
“For an E-ART system, which is proposed to run on rubber tyres and requires much lighter civil works compared to an LRT, about three to five years would be needed to complete a 32-station network,” he said, adding that this would leave a gap when the RTS Link starts operating, as the cross-border rail system is expected to discharge up to 10,000 passengers per hour into Bukit Chagar while Johor Baru’s public transport network is still being developed.
“This huge gap needs to be addressed soon,” he said, adding that the federal and state governments should move quickly to finalise an agreement for the E-ART project.
In the short term, he proposed practical measures such as introducing bus priority lanes at the RTS Link’s Bukit Chagar station and the construction of park-and-ride facilities along major corridors to ease congestion once the cross-border link begins operations.
He also stressed the need for stricter traffic management around the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex, alongside improvements to pedestrian connectivity to make walking to and from stations more practical for commuters.
On May 21, MCA president and Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong questioned why only an LOI had been issued to the E-ART consortium earlier this month when the RTS Link is scheduled to begin operations in another seven months.
He said the Madani government should either directly fund the project, similar to the Penang LRT, or retain a majority stake in the concession company to better control fares and implementation while safeguarding public welfare.
