Johor caretaker chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the federal government should expedite the state's elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit rail plan [1].
The request aims to ensure the new transit system is operational to support the upcoming Johor-Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Without the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project, officials worry that the influx of passengers from the RTS Link could worsen existing traffic congestion in the region [1, 2].
Ghazi said this on Tuesday, June 16, 2024 [1]. The request took place during an event attended by Transport Minister Anthony Loke [1, 2].
The proposed ART system is designed as an elevated rail project intended to modernize the state's urban infrastructure [2]. By accelerating the timeline, the state government hopes to create a seamless transport network that allows commuters to move efficiently from the international border link into the broader Johor region [1, 2].
The coordination between the state and the federal government in Putrajaya is seen as essential for the project's success. The integration of the ART system with the RTS Link is intended to reduce the reliance on road transport, and alleviate the pressure on Johor Bahru's current transit arteries [1, 2].
“Johor caretaker chief minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged the federal government to expedite the state's elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit rail plan.”
The push for the ART project highlights a critical synchronization challenge in Malaysia's infrastructure planning. While the RTS Link will increase cross-border mobility between Singapore and Malaysia, the lack of a robust internal transit system in Johor could lead to a 'bottleneck' effect, where increased arrivals overwhelm local roads and existing public transport.
