Kuala Lumpur Bus Lanes A Success, To Be Expanded To Penang

In response to the encouraging outcomes of the bus lanes trial in Jalan Kelang Lama, which showed that ridership increased and travel time decreased, a trial involving dedicated bus lanes will shortly be extended to four more major roads in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The operator of MRT feeder buses and Rapid KL bus transport services, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, intends to expand the trial to four additional corridors: Federal Highway, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Gombak, Jalan Cheras, and Jalan Ipoh. The first bus lane initiatives in Penang are anticipated to be implemented in mid-November, according to StarMetro. There has been a 12% increase in ridership and a 10% reduction in travel time in the bus lane, which operates during peak hours from 6am to 9am, Monday through Friday, with the exception of weekends and public holidays, according to the operator.

Apart from bus lanes, Rapid KL announced that it was working on a fleet replacement program that will add 310 new diesel buses and 250 new electric buses, among other measures, to sustain and accelerate passenger growth. Additionally, 300 vans will be purchased in order to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity via the Rapid DRT service.

In addition to allocating RM10 million for the construction of 47 km of new dedicated bus lanes along important routes like Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Cheras, and Jalan Gombak, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced last Friday that 100 bus stops in the Klang Valley would be upgraded.

Anwar also committed more than RM270 million for the Stage Bus Service Transformation (SBST) initiative, which aims to increase bus ridership in the country's largest cities while enhancing safety and comfort.