People over cars: rethinking highway development for real growth
The limitations of toll highways
The West Coast Expressway (WCE), which links Banting to Gelang Patah, is unlikely to drive meaningful growth in smaller towns along its route, despite what deputy minister Ahmad Maslan claimed recently.
There’s very little evidence to suggest that toll highways actually do spur local development in smaller towns. In fact, they have often had the opposite effect—bringing about economic stagnation or even decline.
The experience of towns in Perak
The experience of towns in Perak along the North-South Expressway (NSE) is a telling example.
When the NSE bypassed these communities, it took much of their economic vitality with it, resulting in lower property values, dwindling businesses, job losses and a steady population decline.
Towns like Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Batu Gajah, Sungkai, Bidor and Tanjung Malim—once bustling stops on traditional routes—have seen their vibrancy fade over the years since the NSE opened.
Planning alternatives
Rather than investing heavily in toll highways, the government should focus on real transport infrastructure planning — aimed at directly connecting communities, reducing travel barriers, and providing opportunities to use public transport over private cars.
A better approach would be to develop comprehensive road and rail networks, integrated with commuter services, to support the economies of smaller towns.
Connecting communities
Currently, development is heavily concentrated in the Klang Valley, and most infrastructure projects—road and rail—run north to south, once again centred on Kuala Lumpur.
There’s a glaring lack of connectivity between the west and east coasts of the peninsula. Vast areas on the eastern seaboard of Pahang and Johor remain isolated, undeveloped and largely inaccessible.
A more thoughtful approach to infrastructure planning would prioritise direct connections between the west and east coasts, connecting small towns to big cities and fostering movement within regions, rather than simply channelling traffic past them.
Cost per km
Many transport studies have shown that the per-km costs, both for passenger and cargo services, are much lower for rail than highways. This means rail fares and cargo charges are lower, benefiting the lower-to middle-income groups—the B40 and M40.
Government planners and politicians need to understand these calculations if they are to make informed decisions that benefit 80% of our country’s population.
Quality of life
When communities are connected by affordable and direct transit options, travellers are more likely to stop in these towns, supporting local shops, businesses, restaurants and tourism activities.
This continuous flow of people would be more beneficial to local economies than the toll-driven traffic of expressways that bypass smaller towns.
Conclusion
Focusing on accessible, integrated transport options would also yield significant environmental benefits, promoting long-term sustainability.
Improved rail and public transit options reduce dependency on individual cars, cutting carbon emissions—an essential consideration in any new infrastructure project today.
By enhancing connectivity without creating financial barriers like tolls, the government could support an economic and environmental landscape that benefits residents, attracts visitors, and strengthens small businesses.
FAQs
Q: Why are toll highways not effective in stimulating local economies?
A: Toll highways are primarily designed to facilitate inter-urban travel, efficiently moving vehicles—especially freight traffic—between major urban centres while largely ignoring the towns and communities in between.
Q: What are the benefits of a comprehensive rail network?
A: A comprehensive rail network would make it easier for people to travel within a region, encouraging regular commutes and inter-town business. It would also reduce dependency on individual cars, cutting carbon emissions and promoting long-term sustainability.
Q: How can the government support small-town growth?
A: The government can support small-town growth by investing in inclusive transport networks that combine rail lines with road networks, providing affordable and direct transit options that connect communities and reduce travel barriers.