Limiting private vehicle access, applying bus-only lanes on Jalan Bukit Bintang to ease congestion: NGO

Non-governmental organisation Transit Malaysia supports the pedestrianising of Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, reports Bernama.

The NGO said in a statement that congestion is experienced daily on the road due to private vehicles being parked on the side of the three-lane road, often causing causing traffic to slow to a standstill at peak periods such as weekends and evenings when there is a high volume of private vehicles in the city centre.

“By redesigning to accommodate more people travelling to Bukit Bintang by foot or public transportation, Jalan Bukit Bintang will retain its energy, no matter the traffic situation,” the NGO said.

Last month, local authorities were said to be considering the closure of a key section of Jalan Bukit Bintang in a bid to reduce traffic congestion, and KL police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said that discussions and further studies with stakeholders are underway to evaluate the feasibility of rerouting and restricting vehicles in the area.

In support of reducing congestion in the area, Transit Malaysia also suggested a redesign of the Jalan Bukit Bintang-Jalan Sultan Ismail intersection to allow pedestrians to cross the roads from all angles, and at more frequent intervals as well as introducing bus-only lanes to improve public transport accessibility.

Additionally, increasing pedestrian space could boost business growth in the area, according to Transit Malaysia. “The area is already well-served by public transport, with connections to the MRT Kajang Line, KL Monorail Line and several GoKL bus routes,” it said, adding that the elevated walkway to KLCC also aids pedestrian connectivity between major attractions in the city.

Meanwhile, the NGO also acknowledged concerns from local businesses that relied on private vehicle access, and urged Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to engage with stakeholders in addressing the concerns, Bernama reported.

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