Public Transport Upgrades, Congestion Charges Help Ease Traffic Jams

Malaysians' love of cars endures, despite the fact that more and more people are utilizing public transport these days, and commuters in the capital are still extremely busy, according to The Star.

Because of traffic congestion, the typical Malaysian driver has already spent nearly 113 hours on the road in Kuala Lumpur in 2022, according to TomTom Activity List.

Public Transport advocate Dr Katherine Poh said the government should invest more in improving the public transport framework to make it more interesting.

“Improving last-mile connectivity through the expansion of efficient networks, promoting and implementing smart traffic management systems, as well as investing in infrastructure upgrades can help alleviate congestion.

“Additionally, urban planning that prioritises mixed-use development and encourages telecommuting can contribute to a more sustainable and balanced transportation system,” she told The Star.

Poh also said that congestion charges, which have been talked about for years, should be introduced soon when the traffic situation worsens.

According to carsome, when a congestion charge applies, the owner of a private vehicle is charged if he or she enters a designated area within a certain time, usually during rush hour.

The fixed charge can vary, as with Singapore's electronic road pricing system - it can be increased or decreased according to traffic volumes on the road, or it can be a daily charge with unlimited entry per day, as is the practice in London.

Congestion charge is not a new system, it is being implemented in many cities around the world including Singapore, London and Stockholm..

The move will be taken into consideration after Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) is finished, according to comments made by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad last month.

Constructing the MRT3 is the "critical final piece" missing from Kuala Lumpur's urban rail network. Construction has not yet started. Through ten interchange stations, it will be connected to the MRT, LRT, KTM, and Monorail lines.