Number of cars in Klang Valley to reach 7 mln by 2020

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INCREASING DEMANDS: Cars in the Klang Valley is expected to reach seven million by 2020, unless there is a marked shift to public transport. — Bernama file photo

THE number of cars in the Klang Valley is expected to reach seven million by 2020, unless there is a marked shift to public transport, according to the Finance Ministry.

It says that though there has been massive investment in public transport infrastructure, many people still rely on private transport for their daily activities.

The report says this situation warrants concerted and intensified efforts to further increase the share of public transport to 50 per cent and place Kuala Lumpur among the top 20 liveable cities by 2020 as outlined in the Greater KL National Key Economic Area (NKEA).

Under the Greater KL NKEA, the MY Rapid Transit (MRT) will be the government’s single largest infrastructure investment and serve as the key driver in accelerating transformation of the public transport system in the Klang Valley and contributing towards achieving 50 per cent public transport modal share by 2020.

The 51-km Sungai Buloh-Kajang line is the first of a network of MRT lines being planned, and is expected to serve 1.2 million commuters along 31 stations with an estimated one-way travel time of 90 minutes.

The line is expected to be completed in 2016.

The report says that as MRT ridership increases and the number of private cars on the road declines, traffic congestion will be reduced.

It also says that in tandem with the rising demand for public transport, efforts are underway to improve connectivity of the Kelana Jaya Line and Ampang Line of the Light Rail Transit (LRT).

These lines will be extended from Kelana Jaya and Sri Petaling to Putra Heights, which will be the interchange station for both lines.

The 35-km extension is anticipated to benefit more than two million residents in the Subang Jaya-USJ and Kinrara-Puchong areas upon completion by 2014.

As for bus services, the report says RapidKL is expected to launch a Fleet Tracking System by the end of this year to
reduce waiting and journey time.

With this new system, information such as arrival time, fleet number and route will be transmitted digitally to bus stops and depots as well as the control centre, it adds. — Bernama