Buses, parking lots being prepared for RTS ahead of January launch

 These include a 1,500-bay park-and-ride facility at Bukit Chagar and 700 RTS-designated parking bays at Coronation Square.

Construction work proceeding on the Bukit Chagar RTS station in Johor Bahru. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Plans have been drawn up to ensure there are enough parking lots and buses for passengers when the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins operating in January next year.

Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd CEO Zarif Hashim said a broader integrated mobility network was a key guiding principle in the planning of the RTS Link from the outset, Bernama reported.

“The RTS Link was never conceived as a standalone service. It is designed to function as part of a wider mobility network for Johor Bahru and the surrounding region.”

He said the future Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru would also include a stop at Bukit Chagar, with a direct connection to the RTS Link.

As such, Bukit Chagar will be developed into a fully integrated transport hub, he added.

The RTS Link is designed to carry 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction. During peak hours, trains will run every 3.6 minutes. The journey is expected to take only six minutes.

Zarif said as part of efforts to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity, more than 250 additional buses are expected to be introduced by 2027 to enhance public bus services in the city.

A pedestrian overhead bridge will provide direct connections between the RTS station and rail services such as the KTM Komuter and the Electric Train Service (ETS).

This will link the station to surrounding developments, including the Sultan Ibrahim Building, while park-and-ride facilities will provide additional options for commuters, Zarif added.

These include a 1,500-bay park-and-ride facility at Bukit Chagar, offering both standard and premium parking.

Another 700 RTS-designated parking bays will be provided at the nearby Coronation Square, he said.

Zarif said direct pedestrian bridges, including connections to the JB Sentral KTM station, will further enhance accessibility and extend connectivity across Greater Johor. - FMT