TRANSIT noted a very interesting set of articles in The Star Metro section on 26 October, which focus on the issues of public transport in Petaling Jaya.
The articles scored a point with many of the people at TRANSIT, who wonder why LRT extensions to low-density places (like Putra Heights) seem to be planned at the expense of better public transport for higher-density, rapidly growing communities like Petaling Jaya.
And in light of articles like the one above, as well as news about public transport terminals being proposed by private developers in Petaling Jaya and Damansara Damai, TRANSIT is, frankly, very concerned.
It’s not that we mind it if developers are interested in building public transport infrastructure. Frankly, we welcome more participation from developers. The problem is when the government does not have a coordinated, comprehensive and complete Master Plan for development and public transport.
Then, any developer with a bright idea and a big cheque book can get a project approved…just by saying that it will lead to improved public transport.
TRANSIT has a plan for Petaling Jaya and we believe that it will be a good one:
Petaling Jaya South & PJ ‘Old Town’
- Urban renewal projects in PJ Old Town including pedestrianization of Old Town and bus lanes;
- Construction of an integrated public transport terminal at Old Klang Road and Jalan Templer;
- Extension of LRT from Seri Petaling to Old Klang Road and Jalan Templer.
Central Petaling Jaya
- Improve public transport infrastructure in redevelopment of Taman Jaya and PJ State, Section 14 & 15;
- Sg. Buloh to Cheras line will serve Section 16 & 17.
- Bus Rapid Transit system following Jalan Templer, Jalan Gasing, Jalan Universiti to connect north and south Petaling Jaya
Northern Petaling Jaya
- Sg. Buloh to Cheras line will serve Bandar Utama, Mutiara Damansara, and Kota Damansara;
- Urban renewal projects in Bandar Utama, Damansara Uptown including pedestrianization and bus lanes;
- Construction of an integrated public transport terminal at Bandar Utama, just north of 1Utama shopping centre;
- Extension of LRT from Sentul to Bandar Utama via Kepong.
We hope that this will create a complete and effective public transport network for Petaling Jaya, so that there will be no areas of the community that are more than 5km away from a rapid-transit line, and no person should be more than 500 m away from a bus stop.
Of course there are other plans and we welcome them too.
Through open discussion we can find the best, most effective plan that will meet everyone’s needs.
By the way, the Selangor public transport infrastructure plan can be seen here.
Transit Malaysia 