#10MP* RM2.8 bil for improving urban public transport in first two years of 10MP

KUALA LUMPUR: A sum of RM2.8 billion is allocated for improving urban public transportation in the first two years of the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

According to the 10MP report, improving urban public transportation was chosen as one of six National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), which are priority areas under the Government Transformation Programme.

The report which was tabled in parliament today, says the upgrading efforts will focus mainly on three major urban areas - Greater KL, Penang and Johor Baru.

In Greater KL, a major initiative to improve the capacity of the Light Rail Transport (LRT) system is the 34km extension to the existing lines.The full delivery of 35 sets of new four-car trains will increase the capacity of the Kelana Jaya LRT line from 24,000 to 98,000 passengers per hour and reduce the waiting time from 3.3 minutes to 2.0 minutes during peak hours.

For the KTM Komuter system, its capacity will be augmented with the purchase of 38 new six-car Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) to be delivered by 2012, benefiting over 500,000 commuters daily.

To further expand the capacity, a 49km Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system consisting of three major corridors will be implemented. In creating a seamless journey from people's homes to their destinations, efforts will be directed towards increasing the percentage of one-way journeys completed within one hour and with fewer than four transfers.

During the 10MP period, connectivity across different modes of public transport will be improved through the establishment of multi-modal transfer hubs for services within cities, from suburban areas into cities and for
intercity travel.

In Greater KL, these efforts will start with the upgrading of Hentian Akhir Bandar or city centre bus hubs and two inter-urban transport terminals to facilitate the flow of bus services from satellite cities surrounding the Kuala
Lumpur city centre.

Besides that, the completion of the Integrated Transport Terminal (ITT) in Bandar Tasik Selatan this year and the ITT in Gombak later during the Plan period will reduce congestion caused by intercity buses congregating in Kuala Lumpur's city centre. -- Bernama