DUKE Highway, Klang Sentral, and Corporate Social Responsibility
2009 began with some very interesting transport-related stories.The upcoming opening of the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) corridor, the continued political issues at Klang Sentral, and the declassification of toll agreements have generated an interesting buzz.
I sit and read about these issues and proposals and opportunities and wonder if there is a way to improve the way we get around – and I think there just might be a solution.
The DUKE corridor is the "last" expressway corridor to be built in Kuala Lumpur. It is the "missing link" in the expressway transport system, cutting through the mid-northern areas of the Federal Territory. No doubt, the opening of the DUKE corridor will benefit vehicles traveling from the east to the west of Kuala Lumpur and vice versa.
At the same time, DUKE corridor is also linked to the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) corridor, at the Jalan Duta Interchange. The NKVE corridor links Klang and Shah Alam and the northern Klang Valley to Kuala Lumpur. Combining these two corridors gives an uninterrupted, rapid transport route from Klang to Ulu Kelang.
The NKVE-DUKE corridor would be ideal for a rapid-transit service. Beginning at Klang Sentral, buses could follow the NKVE towards the government centre at Jalan Duta. Buses from Ulu Kelang could follow the DUKE corridor to the government centre as well. There could even be an intercity bus service from Ulu Kelang to Klang Sentral.
Building a public transport terminal at the government centre at Jalan Duta would benefit civil servants and the public, giving them easy and convenient access to this isolated area. The government centre is very close to the Hentian Duta express bus terminal and is a likely site for a station on the Kota Damansara-Cheras line. Other potential public transport interchanges include the Sri Subang line (KTM), Kelana Jaya line (Lembah Subang Extension), Ampang line (extension from Sentul Timur), and other future lines proposed in the KLCity 2020 Draft Local Plan.
Normally, we do not think of urban buses following the expressways, especially the toll expressways. However, these unexploited transport corridors are a great place to put "Expressway rapid-transit", a faster and lower-cost preparation for LRT. In fact, the KLCity 2020 Draft Local has identified an LRT route following along the DUKE Corridor. Running a bus service along the DUKE corridor will make help that LRT line come closer to successful reality.
Toll concessionaires have long been encouraged to "give back" to the community. Waiving tolls for urban buses and introducing a "Bus Tag" system to prevent delays at toll plazas will improve public transport, reduce traffic congestion, and make the toll concessionaires look good in the eyes of the public.
The MB of Selangor has shown us that he wants to resolve public transport issues within the state. Establishing public transport on the NKVE-DUKE corridor will be a win-win-win situation for the toll concessionaires, bus operators, drivers, bus passengers, and the government as well.
Sincerely
Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
Subang Jaya, Selangor
