Bold policies needed to boost use of public transport in KL to 70%, say experts

 A transport consultant says the public transport system suffers from poor coverage in suburban areas, weak first-mile last-mile connectivity, and a lack of dedicated bus lanes.

The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan calls for a transport network in which people can travel from place to place, with transit stations within walking distance of less than 400m.

PETALING JAYA:

 The government must make major investments and bold policy changes to meet the goal of 70% public transport usage by 2040 set in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan, say two transport experts.

Transport consultant Rosli Khan said many improvements are needed to raise the current public transport usage from below or around 20% to 70%.

Rosli Azad Khan.

Rosli said the public transport system in the city suffers from poor coverage in suburban areas, weak first-mile last-mile connectivity, and a lack of dedicated bus lanes.

“Many residential and commercial areas aren’t connected to the MRT, LRT, commuter trains, or bus networks,” he said. Even where buses are available, they compete with cars on congested roads, making journeys slow and unreliable.

Rosli said land use policies must shift to favour public transport, as urban development remains overly dependent on private vehicles, making behavioral change more difficult.

He also said the authorities must provide information about the incentives that will motivate people to switch from private vehicles to public transport.

“Without radical and consistent measures, this target is more likely to remain an ambition rather than reality,” he said.

During a briefing on Tuesday, mayor Maimunah Sharif said Kuala Lumpur City Hall may offer incentives to increase population density around rail transit stations.

The local plan calls for a transport network that allows people to travel from place to place with transit stations within walking distance of less than 400m. Most of the zoning plan focuses on aligning with Kuala Lumpur’s rail system, particularly the MRT3 network.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of think tank My Mobility Vision, said poor planning and weak coordination will hinder the achievement of the 70% target.

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.

“We are still relying on a fragmented administrative structure, siloed planning, and inconsistent operational funding. Public transport will never become the people’s top choice like this,” he told FMT.

He said the dissolution of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), which handled public transport planning and coordination until 2018, has seen multiple ministries and local authorities take over its role.

“Our system is fragmented. Planning, funding, and operations are managed by different agencies with no single body fully in charge,” said Wan Agyl, who was formerly head of policy and planning at SPAD.

He said that despite new MRT lines and bus routes, public transport usage remains low at around 25% in the Klang Valley because of poor access, traffic congestion, and a lack of safe, walkable paths.

Apart from urging the government to reclaim road space from private vehicles, he said, public transport users need dedicated bus lanes, safe walking and cycling paths, and real political will.

“The question isn’t if we can do it, it’s whether we’re willing,” he said. - FMT