Star, Jun 7, 2007 ... Is the Subang LRT link a viable option?

Thursday June 7, 2007

Is the Subang LRT link a viable option?

I REFER to the reports “Where Subang Jaya folks want their LRT line” and “Residents can’t wait for project to start” which were published on May 23.  

I am definitely pleased that many people are taking an interest in public transit and the LRT project. 

However, I have some concerns about the overall planning of the route of the LRT extensions. 

The LRT is usually designed as the backbone of the transport system. 

This backbone rail service is meant to provide a simple, fast, and direct route to the destination. 

Some rethinking called for: It was recently announced that the LRT line, which currently ends at Kelana Jaya, will be extended to Subang Jaya, USJ and Bandar Sunway. But, will it be as good an idea in practice as it is on paper?

In this case, the destination for many people in Subang Jaya and USJ would presumably be Kuala Lumpur. 

Designing the LRT extension to wind its way through Subang Jaya, USJ and Bandar Sunway is a good idea on paper, because it will service many areas with potential passengers. 

Unfortunately, there is nothing to prove that these potential passengers will use the LRT once it is built. If the number of LRT passengers is below expectations, then a lot of money will be lost. 

There are a few reasons people might not want to use the LRT. Firstly, this proposed route is anything but direct. Winding through the housing estates will take time, and that will make the service less appealing. 

Much of the space between the areas planned for LRT stations is already heavily developed. For example, to connect KTM Subang Jaya to Bandar Sunway, the LRT would probably have to travel over the New Pantai Expressway (formerly Jalan Subang Utama) for much of its alignment.  

Building an LRT along or above a private expressway will lead to very high engineering costs.  

Another problem might appear at the roundabout at Persiaran Kewajipan (beside Metropolitan College). This roundabout now has two flyovers above it, and the third is under construction. 

Finding a way for the LRT to pass over or around the roundabout would be very costly.  

To provide an LRT service that connects Subang Jaya, Bandar Sunway, and Lagoon Perdana, many tight turns would be required to avoid the residential and industrial areas. 

Many of these stations will be away from the main housing areas, so it would be necessary to construct parking structures at the stations and provide feeder bus services.  

We can also consider that the money spent on the LRT could be used in other parts of the transport system. 

There is still a desperate need for more buses, better bus shelters, accessible bus service and many other improvements throughout the Klang Valley and most cities in Malaysia. 

Perhaps it would be better to concentrate on getting the basics (the bus system and the shelters) taken care of before spending money on the LRT project. 

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad,
Subang Jaya.  

-----Original Message-----
From: hwabeng [mailto:hwabeng1@streamyx.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 5:40 PM
To: 'metro@thestar.com.my'
Subject: RESPONSE TO LETTER

 The Editor

Star Metro Mail 

Dear Sir, 

RESPONSE TO LETTER 

I refer to the letter by En Moaz Yusuf Ahmad of Subang Jaya on the question of whether “Subang LRT link a viable option?. 

En Moaz mentioned that it will be better to concentrate on “the existing bus system and the shelters before spending money on the LRT project” and the technical problem of building the LRT line over the Kewajipan Roundabout. 

First of all, the Federal Government has not decided on the routes for the extension of the Putra LRT from Kelana Jaya to Subang Jaya / USJ.  The routes that En Moaz mentioned was only a proposal from me after my discussion with residents and MPSJ.  Anyway, this proposed route does not have to flyover the existing 3-tier interchange at Kewajipan Roundabout.  It will only pass beside it before going to Sunway and then cross over to USJ via Kesas Highway.   

I disagree with him that spending monies on LRT is a waste of funds.  We can see from proven examples in the big cities of the world that train services (LRT & MRT) is the best method of moving people.  It does not use the existing roads and does not have to stop for traffic lights.  Any modern city that does not have such train services will face traffic congestion.  After all the introduction of Rapid KL buses have not eased the traffic congestion.  I am sure En Moaz’s view does not represent the majority of residents in Subang Jaya.   

The Selangor Menteri Besar had recently announced that LRT is the only way to ease traffic congestion and that the Sate Government has allocated RM 12 billion funds to extend LRT services to all major towns in Selangor. 

Hence, I urge the Federal Government to continue with the Putra LRT extension to Subang Jaya. 

Thank you. 

Yours In Service, 

Lee Hwa Beng

State Assemblyman for Subang Jaya