SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) aims to raise public transport use in the city from the current 10 per cent to 40 per cent by 2045, as part of its long-term push towards sustainable mobility, said Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon.
He said the shift is crucial to reduce reliance on private vehicles and address worsening congestion, The Star reported.
“There is a need to strengthen the public transport system and its supporting facilities to handle increased road usage and minimise private vehicle dependence.
“Ultimately, roads must provide a smooth journey. The city has about one million people travelling in and out daily so we must keep up with the demand for public transport,” he said during a series of workshops with Petaling Jaya residents.
To achieve its goal and address public concerns, including those concerning transit-oriented development (TOD), MBPJ will roll out the Petaling Jaya Urban Transport Master Plan (PIP) 2.0 for 2026 to 2035, with an allocation of RM527.3 million.
The plan, developed after 11 months of research and public engagement, focuses on seven areas — public transport, traffic management, walkways, cycling and micromobility, parking, goods vehicle traffic, and TOD.
“The use of public transport is currently at 10 per cent. We hope to see an increase to 20 per cent in 2030, 25 per cent by 2035, 30 per cent by 2040 and 40 per cent by 2045,” Zahri added.
Traffic consultant Rosli Azad Khan was quoted as saying that TOD projects often fail to serve lower- and middle-income groups.
“Those who can afford TOD properties will likely own vehicles and not depend on rail, defeating the purpose.”
MBPJ councillor Kusaaliny Mahendran, from the city council’s transport sub-committee, said a 2013 study identified 105 ideal bus routes, but only six have been implemented due to budget limitations.
She noted that MBPJ has improved walkability in several areas, including Section 8 to Section 52 and the Penchala River trail.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya’s Civil Engineering Department senior lecturer Suhana Koting said first- and last-mile connectivity is essential to boost ridership.
“This includes better pedestrian links, micromobility paths and stronger bus connections to transit stations,” she was reported as saying, adding that PIP 2.0 aligns with national transport policies but must be effectively executed.
Independent researcher Nischal Ranjinath Muniandy said many commuters still face long travel times due to multiple transfers, and that more direct routes between key neighbourhoods would encourage public transport use.
