Shah Alam to get new bus terminal complex

TRANSIT takes note of this update on the proposed bus terminal complex in Shah Alam.

Shah Alam to get new bus terminal complex
Saturday May 2, 2009

SHAH ALAM will soon have its own bus terminal complex.

The bus terminal complex, to be housed at Section U1 near the Batu Tiga police station, will be built in two stages.

Mayor Mazalalan Md Nor said the first phase was estimated to cost more than RM20mil.

Under the first phase, Mazalan said 45 bays would be provided in the complex.

He said the three-storey complex would be equipped with ticketing counters, retail and food outlets on the first floor and car park and drop off points on the second floor.

He said it would be situated at a strategic location near to Stadium Shah Alam and the indoor stadium and also the Federal Highway.

“The second phase will be more of expansion from the first phase which includes pedestrian crossing from the terminal to the Komuter station situated across the Federal Highway.

“It will also provide space for operation of all the buses including local, express and inter- state,’’ he added.

Mazalan said the work on the terminal was expected to start at the end of the year and completed in two years.

TRANSIT says:

The proposal for the terminal is an interesting one. The location is ideal from a driving perspective, with access to major highways and in future a link to the KTM Komuter station.

The problem is that there are few people living in the area – which means that to get access, people would have to drive or use public transport – unless public transport is up to expectations, this will make people more dependent on their private transport.

TRANSIT has always supported urban transport terminals located in urban areas where people can walk or bicycle to and from the terminal with relative ease. Hence our preference for the centrally-located North Klang bus terminal as opposed to the Klang Sentral terminal which is located at the outskirts of the city.

It goes without saying that no matter the location, the new bus terminal should be designed according to universal design and accessibility principles.

TRANSIT observes that the area where the Shah Alam terminal is to be located would be an excellent place for a large capacity Integrated Transport Terminal with links to bus, taxi, KTM, and even LRT.

TRANSIT also hopes that the State Government and MBSA do not end up having the same problems as with Klang Sentral.