DRT: Expert moots centralised system as govt links app glut to last-mile woes

 

Putrajaya must spearhead initiatives for a centralised Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) system to ease travellers’ experience, said a transport consultant.

This came after the Transport Ministry recently said that one of the public transport operator Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s main challenges in implementing DRT services was the variety of booking applications from operators.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, who leads a transport think tank, opined that it would be wise for the government to consider a unified booking interface to resolve the issue.

This is particularly since the ministry revealed in its parliamentary reply on March 5 that it will add 300 new vans by September for the DRT.

Other hurdles include digital infrastructure developments to support such applications, increasing public awareness and acceptance, and maintaining sustainable operating costs with low fares, the ministry said.

Wan Agyl told Malaysiakini that such an interface where passengers seeking to book rides could use just one application instead of switching between several will likely simplify travellers’ booking experience and reduce conflicts.

“Although operators value their individual branding and customer relationships, we can incorporate sub-branding within this single interface and establish clear data usage policies to keep their identities intact,” he added.

Smooth transition

The MY Mobility Vision CEO also proposed that the Transport Ministry require every DRT operator to connect their systems to a central data hub.

This, he said, would entail the use of a standardised application programming interface (API) which would allow every DRT-related booking, vehicle status and update to be visible in real time.

“I understand that some operators might be concerned about the costs and sharing sensitive data, but a phased rollout with proper incentives and strong cybersecurity measures would help smooth the transition,” he added.

Wan Agyl also advocated for a central performance monitoring hub system which can pull in real-time data such as those on vehicle locations and passenger demand from all operators.

He said this system, which was previously employed by the Land Public Transport Agency during the bus network rationalisation and Interim Stage Bus Support Fund efforts, can be utilised to adjust routes dynamically, thus avoiding overlaps and ensuring vehicles are dispatched efficiently.

“While some operators might worry about losing some control, clear baseline commitments combined with dynamic adjustments can ensure that everyone still meets their obligations while staying flexible,” he added.

He stressed that the Transport Ministry must set and enforce regulations requiring operators to use systems capable of resolving conflicts, such as booking locks or time-stamp verifications, to prevent double bookings.

“I know that extra oversight might feel like added pressure for some operators, but by involving them in developing these standards and phasing the changes in gradually, we can ease this process,” he said.

Sharing resources

Another promising solution, he said, would be a white-label mobile platform where operators maintain their own branding while sharing a common backend system.

This, he said, would reduce the need for each operator to invest heavily in their own IT systems, while performance-based incentives can encourage data sharing and more effective collaborations.

Commenting further on the scheduled addition of 300 new vans, Wan Agyl highlighted that while DRT has successfully increased ridership, it would be wise for Prasarana to recognise that there is a certain point where adding more vans becomes unsustainable.

“Once ridership on a route hits a certain threshold, it’s time to transition to bus services, which are better suited for high-capacity needs,” he said, adding that the service quality expected by commuters must be protected in the shift from vans to buses. - Mkini