Selangor government proposes Klang Valley Transport Council in 2010 Budget

TRANSIT took note of the announcement from the Selangor government that it is proposing a Klang Valley Transport Council to improve public transport in the Klang Valley and much of the state.

(113) Projek kelima iaitu meningkatkan kemudahan infrastruktur terutamanya sistem pengangkutan awam. Sebagaimana kita sedia maklum Lembah Klang kini mengalami kesesakan jalan raya yang kritikal di mana kesannya pengguna jalanraya terpaksa menghabiskan banyak masa di atas jalan raya.

Dalam hal ini, Kerajaan Negeri Selangor mensasarkan supaya nisbah penggunaan kereta individu berbanding dengan sistem pengangkutan awam dikurangkan daripada nisbah 90:10 sekarang kepada 50:10. Saya telah membincangkan perkara ini bersama dengan Menteri Pengangkutan dan menyerahkan “Wish List” Rakyat Selangor kepada beliau.

Ianya mengandungi cadangan penubuhan sebuah Lembaga Pengangkutan Klang Valley (Klang Valley Transport Council) bagi mengatasi masalah ini. Lembaga ini berperanan menyelaraskan proses-proses pemantauan, perancangan dan penguatkuasaan pengangkutan awam di Lembah Klang. Saya juga membangkitkan beberapa isu termasuk cadangan memperluaskan jaringan pengangkutan LRT bagi kegunaan orang ramai. Ianya merangkumi aspek penyelarasan, jaringan pengangkutan berintegrasi dan seterusnya memberi kuasa kepada Kerajaan Negeri dan kerajaan tempatan untuk menjalankan operasi tersebut kerana Kerajaaan Negeri dan kerajaan tempatan lebih memahami keadaan dan permasalahan yang wujud.

Saya juga tidak lupa membangkitkan isu pelaksanaan sistem pengangkutan bas awam seperti Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), perlunya pewujudan sistem pengangkutan bas komuniti dan penambahbaikan infrastruktur sokongan seperti laluan pejalan kaki (pedestrian walk) di Negeri Selangor.

TRANSIT Says:

As you might imagine, TRANSIT has been working for a long time to push the concept of the Public Transport Council / Transport Council for the government and the operators.

It is our belief that the creation of such a council will help coordinate public transport and help reduce the prevailing “silo mentality” that keeps government departments isolated from each other.

The challenge now is to see where this proposed Transport Council goes. The idea is a fine one, but the structure of the proposed council must also be effective.

The Council must include the presence of all 4 stakeholder groups, it has to be balanced and effective so the discussion actually leads to conclusions.

Most importantly, the Council needs to have the authority to plan the bus and LRT and rail routes and the supporting infrastructure.

That is not going to be easy to get.

In the meantime, TRANSIT will be giving our feedback to the State government and the Federal Government and Prasarana and KTMB on how this Transport Council can work effectively.