Alternative public transport system in Klang Valley

With the construction of new LRT extensions going full swing, housing areas in Puchong, Subang and USJ will see dramatic changes in the way residents move around in the near future.

Together with proper feeder bus service in place, hopefully most commuters can start to abandon their cars, and seriously consider public transport as the way to get around once all the extension work has been completed.

That in turn will cut down our traffic congestion, saving valuable commute time for most commuters.

However, if we study the grand scheme of things, the highly populated Bandar Sunway is not benefiting from any of the LRT extensions.

In fact, none of the extended LRT lines even come near Bandar Sunway.

Quietly though, Bandar Sunway and Prasarana are coming up with a new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system, an elevated dedicated road system for buses only, linking KTM line at Setia Jaya station (next to Federal Highway) to new Kelana Jaya LRT extension line station at USJ 6 (one stop down from Summit).

Halt 1 at Setia Jaya - Halt 7 at USJ 6

The system is completely new in Malaysia. In a way, starting a brand new chapter in public transport system in this country. Basically instead of using trains, buses will be used on the elevated tracks.

There are a total of seven stations (call Halts) along the tracks at all the busy spots along the line.

Elevated bus lanes

Stations call Halt

From the look of it, the advantage of the system comparing to train system are cheaper cost, and tighter turning radius of the tracks, making it suitable for high density area like Bandar Sunway.

The construction of the BRT system has been going on concurrently with LRT line extensions. If anyone drives around Bandar Sunway, all the elevated structures they are building are meant to be for the BRT system.

BRT construction in front of Sunway University

Construction of elevated BRT system

In a way Bandar Sunway BRT acts as some sort of feeder bus system connecting KTM line to LRT line, giving commuters from Bandar Sunway access to other mass transit system.

When the BRT system is completed in 2015, we will be able to gauge if this system is suitable and can be expanded for other parts of the Klang Valley.

So instead of building more tolled highways like Kidex, who knows, together with more MRT and LRT lines, this may be the future of public transport that can solve our traffic woes.