*Alam Sanctuary @ Taman Alam Putra: Community Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

(MRT)Expert: System will help optimise use of existing lines

Go down

(MRT)Expert: System will help optimise use of existing lines Empty (MRT)Expert: System will help optimise use of existing lines

Post  Wyvernt Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:12 pm

The Star - 27 Aug 2010

THE RM36bil Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system should be the backbone of urban public transportation in the Klang Valley with all other existing systems, including the LRT, KTM, Monorail and buses functioning as feeder modes, said a traffic expert.

“This would be the ideal method to maximise the country’s investment in urban public transportation,” Transport Planning consultant Goh Bok Yen from MAG Technical & Development Consultants Sdn Bhd said.

Goh said that with the hierarchy made clear, the MRT system must be able to fill the gaps, ease the bottlenecks and optimise the use of existing systems.

“This is imperative, especially for the Circle Line which runs within a 5km radius from the city centre to link all major developments,” he said.

In addition to the Circle Line, which is a common and crucial element in a metropolitan, the MRT system comprises the Green line that covers northeast of the Klang Valley from Sungai Buloh and Kepong, passing through the city centre to Cheras and Kajang, as well as the Red line that covers northwest from Sungai Buloh and Kota Damansara to Sri Kembangan.

The project will add another 190km to the rail network, as well as 90 stations to the present 50 over stations.
Goh said the demand-driven corridors would be able to provide satisfactory coverage but the exact alignment ought to be integrated with land use to meet the requirements of a world-class city.

“The alignment, while fulfilling the present demand, must also tap the future mega projects. The planning committee must have the foresight, as well as enough information, to link the MRT with these future hubs. “These are the main objectives that the MRT needs to achieve, without these, you are merely adding another three lines that do not serve a good purpose,” he added.

According to his calculations, the MRT and LRT extension lines will increase Kuala Lumpur’s track coverage from 15km per million population to 30km when completed, as compared with 40km in Hong Kong, 35km in Singapore and 10km in Bangkok, which is ironically more efficient than the current system in Kuala Lumpur due to better placement of stations.

The new lines can at least double the current area coverage — Kuala Lumpur now has 50m of track per sq km compared with 650m per sq km in Hong Kong.

“When the new lines are fully completed and supported by an efficient bus network, we can cover 80% of the population of Greater KL (within 20km radius from the city centre). In other words, a commuter will reach either a train or a bus station within 400m of walking and be linked to the whole system.

“We cannot achieve high speed in the urban area with the many stops. We are talking about less than 1km between every station — but still, I would estimate travelling from one end of the system to the town centre to take about 35min to 40min. There’s still room to improve, such as using KTM as an express option by reducing its stops.

“Once it is well integrated, then buses need to only loop 3km to 5km as feeders to the stations. The waiting time can be limited to five to 10 minutes with a fleet of eight buses for a 3km loop,” he added.

While the alignment is still being finalised, Goh said it should be continuously optimised to maximise its social and economic benefits.
“In the optimisation process, we need to pay more attention particularly to areas undergoing urban redevelopment such as Old Town, Section 13 and Section 52 in Petaling Jaya, Jalan Ipoh and Segambut,” he said.

He also said a well-integrated system ought to be supported by a good ticketing system, effective dissemination of information and flexibility for expansion.

On top of all that, institutional integration is of paramount importance.
“Previously, our urban public transportation was not well coordinated because we have dozens of agencies involved. Today, at least we have the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to coordinate the entire system,” he said.

He hopes the commission would be as dynamic and innovative as a private entity, and having a public-listed company to operate the urban public transportation would eventually benefit everyone.

He also foresees a drastic change in lifestyle after the completion of the MRT. Parking trend, among others, will see a shift as demand drops and the underground stations — more than 20 — will also lead to an increase in underground shopping space.
Then, where do we go from there.

“Do we go to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya or do we make the system more dense? These are things to think about in the future, hence it is vital to build an expandable and sustainable system,” he said.

Website: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/8/27/central/6926272&sec=central
Wyvernt
Wyvernt
Admin

Posts : 78
Join date : 2008-06-09
Location : Sri Kembangan

https://alamsanctuary.forumotion.com

Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum