Forget PJD link, here’s a better alternative for Taman Medan residents

 

Recently, the residents of Taman Medan have been asking for the government to reconsider its decision to cancel the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway project. They say the proposed highway would alleviate congestion in their vicinity.

There is no doubt that the residents of Taman Medan have been neglected. One needs to only visit the place to understand why.

However, constructing another highway in front of their homes will not solve their predicament. Neither will it alleviate traffic congestion, reduce the number of cars in the area, or increase the value of their houses. Instead, it is likely to only exacerbate their problems.

Recently, Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, Petaling Jaya Amanah secretary Ammar Atan, and politician turned radio commentator Khairy Jamaluddin, among others, have all spoken about the need to find a solution for this long-suffering community.

Here is my suggestion.

Railway access

Adjacent to Taman Medan, across an existing elevated highway, lies a small rail station called Kg Dato Harun.

Further down the same road, which intersects with two other highways leading towards Shah Alam, sits another small rail station, Seri Setia.

Both stations are literally sandwiched by a network of highways, making them extremely difficult to access due to the presence of elevated structures, the NPE at the first station, and the LDP and Federal Highway at the second.

Instead of facilitating them, these highways obstruct vehicular and passenger movements to these two train stations. The construction of PJD Link would likely make this situation even worse.

As a result, both stations are not receiving the number of passengers they ought to expect and appear bleak and empty most of the time.

The next station after Kg Dato Harun, in the direction of Kuala Lumpur, is located at Pantai Dalam, more than 10km away.

Realistically, there is no dependable rail station that the residents of PJ Selatan, or indeed even the entire PJ area, can rely on to cater to their public transport needs.

There is no easy and feasible daily commute either to KL or Port Klang, although the rail lines are there and connect directly to Port Klang and Westport on the west of PJ (with a branch to Subang airport), and to KL Sentral on the east.

From KL, the same track extends all the way to Ipoh, Butterworth, Padang Besar (and into Thailand) up north, while its southern branch extends to Seremban, JB, and Woodlands (Singapore) across the Causeway.

So, theoretically, the Taman Medan residents have good infrastructure in place and fantastic railway access via the Kg Dato Harun station. However, in reality, the station is underutilised by the working-class community that lives in its vicinity.

New rail station

Strategically located along that rail network is PJ Selatan. That makes it ideal for a new central rail station which is capable of servicing the needs of the populace in the vicinity as well as those in the neighbouring Old Klang Road and Kinrara areas.

PJ Old Town seems to be an ideal location for such a station. It already has an existing railway track that has been neglected, cast aside in favour of a toll highway.

A public transport station here can be the catalyst for the area’s regeneration, and may transform this blighted urban enclave into a modern, liveable and stylish environment.

Urban regeneration

Over the years we have seen how effective transport networks have stimulated new economies, encouraged investment and brought about job creation.

Successful cities like London, Singapore, Amsterdam and Tokyo boast high-quality integrated public transport systems operating from a central rail station.

Many developed countries, including China, have used the railways to bring about a regeneration of old urban areas.

In much the same way, PJ Old Town and its adjacent areas, including Taman Medan, stand to benefit from such a project.

It must not be left to suffer the same fate of Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Gopeng and Tanjung Malim, four towns in Perak which have lost much of their charm and value after being displaced by toll highways.

Railway stations have the potential to serve as the primary nucleus for commercial activities in this part of PJ.

The emphasis should be on adapting existing infrastructure, turning the area into a transport hub, and making it a focal point for broader investment into housing and commercial activity.

Please, let’s not build another toll highway in the Klang Valley. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.