Scrap plans for more highways, Putrajaya urged

 

Building new highways will not alleviate congestion, say two transport experts.

PETALING JAYA: Two transport experts have urged the government to abandon plans to build new highways for the Klang Valley, saying they will not alleviate traffic congestion.

Transport consultants Rosli Azad Khan and Goh Bok Yen said the government’s priorities were misplaced.

Rosli Azad Khan said there were already too many highways in the Klang Valley and the government should resolve issues with the public transportation system before considering the construction of new ones.

“It is time for us to consolidate and resolve the first mile and last mile issues of our public transport systems,” he told FMT. “They’re not operating at the optimal level, with so many of them constantly breaking down. Shouldn’t a responsible government resolve those issues first?”

Rosli Azad Khan.

Rosli said urban areas in the Klang Valley were designed mainly for cars and there had been a failure to integrate new forms of personalised modes of transport into the system.

“Perhaps we need a complete revamp of the road layout in urban areas, especially in places that are near public transport stations, to accommodate e-scooters and other personalised modes of transport.”

Yesterday, works minister Fadillah Yusof said proposals for the construction of new highways had been approved, adding that traffic congestion could potentially be reduced if 60% of commuters used roads and 40% used public transport.

Goh said the construction of additional highways would intensify resistance towards public transport.

Goh Bok Yen.

He said there was an “obvious conflict” between Putrajaya’s investment of billions of ringgit in the construction of rails, coaches and feeder buses on the one hand and the continued building of elevated urban expressways on the other.

“They don’t complement each other but are competing,” he said.

He said the emphasis should be on one mode of transport and the target commuter ratio should be 60% public transport to 40% private vehicles. The public transportation system was capable of accommodating this.

Goh said the transport ministry should be restraining private car use, like Singapore was doing, instead of allowing the unconstrained growth of private vehicle mobility.

He suggested having an urban centre toll, increasing car park charges and abolishing fuel subsidies. - FMT