RM1b Bus Rapid Transport system ready 2020: CM
Published on: Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system is expected to be completed in 2020, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.He said they will be conducting studies such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) to evaluate the project's implementation in terms of technical, financial and system operations.According to him, the development plan was already announced by the Prime Minister during the tabling of Budget 2016 with a total of allocation of RM1 billion.
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"The plan to develop BRT KK is an initiative under the blueprint of the Kota Kinabalu Public Transport Enhancement as well as Greater Kota Kinabalu.""BRT KK will be executed together with the improvement of the bus transportation system through the restructuring of the existing bus services," he said, adding that BRT is a modern and fully air-conditioned bus transportation system using dedicated lanes. BRT buses, which are battery operated and eco-friendly can decrease half the travel time compared to the existing transportation system.Besides that, it also includes an intelligent transport system comprising closed-circuit television (CCTV), automated fare collection and fleet tracking system, said Musa.
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"BRT KK users can manage their journey efficiently with lower costs," he said, adding that it also offers an alternative mode of public transport not only to the existing public transport users but also to those who travel by their own transport.The restructuring of public transport service will result in more people travelling by public transport, reducing traffic congestion in the city, he added.
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BRT, he said, will be carried out by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad through the Public Private Partnership (PPP). Prasarana is a government-owned company in the public transport sector. The company is experienced in developing the first BRT in the country – BRT Sunway which was launched in June this year and has already started operating. A total of four integrated terminals will be developed under the Public Transport (Bus) Enhancement plan namely, Northern Inanam Integrated Bus Terminal, Southern Kepayan Integrated Bus Terminal (nearby Kota Kinabalu International Airport), Eastern Penampang Integrated Bus Terminal as well as the Wawasan Kota Kinabalu Main Terminal which is currently under construction. According to Musa, BRT KK will be concentrated on the passageways among the four integrated bus terminals whereas the existing bus services will serve as 'feeder buses' to all BRT KK stations.Therefore, he said, for the first phase of the implementation, the government has no plans to replace the existing mini buses. He said this in reply to Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing and Api-Api Assemblywoman Christina Liew during question time at the State Assembly sitting here, Monday. BRT KK consists of three main routes which are, Putatan – Kota Kinabalu – Inanam (20km), Kota Kinabalu – Penampang (11km) and Kota Kinabalu – Alam Mesra (13km)."The Putatan – Kota Kinabalu – Inanam and Kota Kinabalu – Penampang routes will be implemented in the first phase whereas the Kota Kinabalu – Alam Mesra route will be implemented in the long-term phase," he explained. "The building of integrated terminals will provide facilities to long distance buses throughout Sabah to fetch and dispatch their passengers without even having the need to enter into the city."This concept has already started temporarily at the Northern Inanam Integrated Bus Terminal whereby buses from Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau would pick up and drop passengers at the terminal," he said, adding that it would reduce traffic congestion in the city. However, Musa said the success of the BRT KK project requires the support of all parties. Later, Bumburing also questioned whether the allocation for the project will be given by the Federal government through the annual budget.Musa said because the project would take five years to complete, the allocation will be provided by the Federal government in stages."The Federal government has offered us the allocation for this project so there will be no problem, regardless exceeding the total cost … if there's a shortage, we can ask for more," he said.Bumburing also brought up the issue of roads encroaching private lands and questioned why not spend the allocated money to build monorails instead. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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