More bus routes and another one-way loop planned in Bukit Gasing, DAP incumbent says

PETALING JAYA, May 6 — To ease traffic congestion along several major roads in the city and complement the latest Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines, Bukit Gasing’s DAP hopeful R. Rajiv said, if he was elected for a second term, he would work towards increasing bus routes and better public transportation system.

He said the current 24 routes, which is a combination of the service provided by 20 Rapid KL buses and four free Selangor buses, was insufficient to cater to the growing demand of residents in the Bukit Gasing state constituency.

“We need at least 106 bus routes because without a proper feeder bus service, for example, a person in Section 17 here would not be able to get to nearest MRT station which is just one kilometre away,” he told Malay Mail.

Rajiv, however, conceded that in order to make this a reality, the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) must be receptive to the idea.

Without the approval of SPAD, he said this will not be possible and traffic woes in the city would continue to be a bane for the people.

Besides increasing bus routes, he said, another plan which was already in the pipeline before the dissolution of the state assembly was to make Jalan Tanjong – the road leading to the Bukit Gasing Hill – a one-way street.

At present, he said, it was a two-way street that was most of the time narrowed to a one-way lane due to cars parked at both sides of the road.

“I understand there are insufficient parking spaces and many hikers have brought this forward to me during townhall meetings.

“So, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has already started studying the idea of making it a one-way street,” Rajiv said.

As for parking issues around the recreational park, he said, MBPJ was working with the Public Works Department (JKR) to see if its quarters in the area could be converted into parking spaces.

Rajiv, however, refused to comment when asked about claims that the multi-lane One-Way Loop (OWL) had resulted in several accidents.

Petaling Jaya Utara MCA division chairman Tan Gim Tuan had highlighted that the OWL plan was unsafe for motorists and pedestrians.

According to Tan, the loop allowed motorists to speed and caused a danger for pedestrians crossing the road, especially when crossing Jalan Timur or Jalan Selangor.

Rajiv is facing PAS’ David Sew Kah Seng and BN’s Chai Ko Thing for the Bukit Gasing state seat.