[sustran] Re: FW: NST on KL public transport changes

[Brendan Finn]

Paul,

As you say, the situation in KL should be interesting. The word
"integration" is being used quite a bit, but I'm not sure what it will mean.

Rapid KL - a transformation of SPNB - has the two LRT lines and about half
of the city's functioning bus routes. However, that still leaves the
commuter rail, the monorail, KLIA, and about another half of the city's
buses across many operators, all of which are in separate hands. I don't
know what 'integration' will be possible here. It is unlikely that there
will be service integration, harmonisation of timetables etc. There is
currently no basis for fares integration - or even for common ticketing
given that most of the ticketing equipment on the rail modes is relatively
new and unlikely that anyone will ditch their gear with plenty of useful
life remaining.

Even within Rapid KL, the options for integration seem quite limited. It
should be interesting to see how the bus and LRT divisions actually work
together, and whether the bus services become subordinate to the LRT or are
given a free hand to develop their business. So much will depend on what
direction they are given.

I have heard that there will be the Klang Valley Urban Transport Authority.
Even there, it is not yet clear how much authority this will actually have,
and to what extent either Rapid KL or the various independent operators can
be controlled by the new KUTA.

I think that for KL some key opportunities for integration were missed in
the mid- and late-90's. I'm not sure that this can be reversed easily, and
they may need to think long-term for when opportunities will next come
around, and be ready then.

Of course, while all of this has been going on, car ownership and usage have
increased dramatically, so that modal share of public transport has fallen
from over 30% to about 16% today. The cheap Proton has placed cars in the
hands of most workers, and a lot of households have multiple cars. Traffic
is still tolerable in KL - it doesn't seem any worse than Dublin, for
example - but it is growing rapidly and must surely face key thresholds in
the coming years.

Can it be rescued from itself, or has it already passed the point of no
return with inevitable consequences ? For sure, merely tinkering with the
public transport supply will make no difference to the outcome.

Brendan Finn,
ETTS.



________________________________________________________________
e-mail : etts at indigo.ie    phone : +353.87.2530286

-----Original Message-----
From: sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=indigo.ie at list.jca.apc.org
[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+etts=indigo.ie at list.jca.apc.org]On
Behalf Of Paul Barter
Sent: 26 November 2004 03:39
To: sustran discuss; msia-plan-transp at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [sustran] FW: NST on KL public transport changes


Malaysia's Klang Valley starts to get serious about integrating its
public transport - via a merger into one company of a significant
proportion of the services - and apparently with Dutch advice.  It will
be interesting to watch what happens and if the promised service
improvements can be realised. KL certainly needs some improvements,
especially to bus service and to integration.
Paul

Dr Paul A. Barter
LKY School of Public Policy,
National University of Singapore
5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570
Tel: +65-6874 3324;  Fax: +65-6778 1020
Email:  paulbarter at nus.edu.sg

Applications are now open (until 15 Jan. 2005) for our Masters in Public
Policy 2005/2006. See http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/degree_prog_1.htm for
details and application form.


> New Straits Times > Frontpage
> New bus service to overcome congestion in Kuala Lumpur
> PUTRAJAYA, Nov 25:
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------
>
> Come Monday, a plan to reduce travelling time on public
> transportation will take off.
> For instance, passengers on the Rapid KL bus servicing Route
> 60C between Pandan Indah and Jalan Yap Ah Loy will have to
> wait only 7.5 minutes for a bus from that day.
>
> The new route will take over the present 60C and 6B bus routes.
>
> Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the
> maximum time between buses on the new route will be 15
> minutes during peak hours, which implies an average waiting
> time of 7.5 minutes.
>
> Rapid KL is the company formed to operate the city's public
> transportation system. It will also operate Kuala Lumpur's
> two light rail transit systems, currently called Star and Putra.
>
> "The Government is confident that commuters will begin to see
> positive changes within the coming year, thus increasing the
> usage of public transportation in the Klang Valley," he said
> when briefing newsmen on the Government's plan yesterday.
>
> Nor Mohamed also introduced senior executives who would head
> Rapid KL, its chief executive being Rein Westra, a Dutch
> national with wide experience in Europe's public
> transportation sector.
>
> He will be assisted by two chief operating officers, Ridza
> Abdoh Salleh, in charge of rail operations, and Mohd Ali Mohd
> Nor, who will be responsible for bus operations.
>
> The Government, in July 2003, started the ambitious project
> called "Integrasi and Penyusunan Semula Sistem Pengangkutan
> Awam Lembah Klang" (Inspak) specifically to free Kuala Lumpur
> of its perennial traffic gridlock. Inspak's plans include
> creating a reliable and efficient public transportation
> system operated by a financially sound entity to ensure
> service quality.
>
>
>
>