The scraping of KL-Klang BRT is a shame

Is a more cost-effective Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system being scrapped in favour of a mega construction project for some quarters to make money?

Do the people have to suffer again for the sake of Barisan Nasional’s mega project?

Recently, Minister Nancy Shukri announced in Parliament that the KL-Klang BRT project would be scrapped. The only reason cited, that it is parallel to the LRT 3 project is unfortunately, a weak reason.

In this piece, I would like to explore a few reasons why this decision to cancel the KL-Klang BRT is a shame.

1. While a BRT system is capable of moving approximately the same number of passengers per direction per hour as our Ampang and Kelana Jaya LRT Lines (around 30,000 passengers per direction per hour), the cost is only a fraction. The BRT would have cost approximately RM1-2billion, which is a fraction of the LRT3 project (RM9bil that only is half the length of the BRT). Given the natural development of the Klang Valley along the Federal Highway corridor, this would have been the ideal showcase of a cost efficient public transport system that can quickly move hundreds of thousands of passengers daily.
2. The LRT3 is only parallel to the BRT from Shah Alam to Klang. While the planned BRT was to run on the fast lane of Federal Highway from Central Market to Klang, the LRT is only parallel with the Federal Highway from the middle of Shah Alam towards Klang. Passengers on this portion are not only travelling to KL, but also to places like Subang Jaya, Sunway, and Petaling Jaya, of which the BRT would have done wonders to reduce travel times.
3. There were 10 options considered for the LRT3 alignment, as presented to elected representatives during the public consultation process. I had pointed out back then that the LRT 3 would be parallel to the planned BRT, and that one of the other alternative corridors should be picked, to enable a larger percentage of the Klang Valley to have access to transport line. With the LRT3 coming towards the Federal Highway, the northern Shah Alam and Klang areas are now deprived of any rail or BRT link.
4. The traffic volumes from Shah Alam to KL is extremely high, as testified by the traffic jams on federal highway, not only during peak hours but even at off peak hours. A dedicated bus lane on federal highway for the BRT would have had a great physiological effect on drivers stuck in traffic, as they see the buses whiz by every minute. This can be a great motivator for car drivers to make the switch.