KL’s Congestion Crisis: Do We Have the Political Will to Fix It?

The Problem

Kuala Lumpur, a city with ambitions of becoming a world-class metropolis, faces two major challenges: endless traffic congestion and a reluctance to implement congestion charges.

In fact, the construction of numerous highways and flyovers with the intention of easing congestion has had the opposite effect—KL continues to suffer from massive gridlocks. More highways have only led to more vehicles, making the city centre even more crowded.

History of Public Transport Expansion

To tackle this, continuous efforts have been made to expand the public transport network, providing alternatives for commuters who wish to avoid being stuck in traffic.

First LRT line

I remember the first LRT line well, connecting Jalan Sultan Ismail to Ampang.

Opened in 1996 as part of the STAR system, this first line was built in two phases.

Phase 1 ran from Ampang to Jalan Sultan Ismail and housed 14 stations.

Phase 2, launched in 1998, added 11 stations between Chan Sow Lin and Sri Petaling, as well as Jalan Sultan Ismail and Sentul Timur.

This was later followed by a larger capacity and driverless LRT1, linking Kelana Jaya to Gombak.

In August 2003, the city centre monorail line, meant to meet inner city mobility needs, was introduced.

The elevated system spanning 8.6 km with 11 stations between the Jalan Tun Razak/Jalan Pahang junction and KL Sentral, provide useful, quick and easy access deep into the city centre.

Why the Reluctance?

However, the car lobbyists were too strong, and the city centre’s lucrative car parking business was too profitable to disrupt.

Adding to the problem has been the uncontrolled rise in private vehicles, including those passing through KL, from North to south and east to west, necessitating the building of more elevated highways in and around KL.

Equally lucrative has been the award of government contracts for expanding the public transport system, with projects such as MRT1, MRT2, LRT2, KTM Komuter and LRT3.

So Why the Reluctance?

The idea of a congestion charge is not new, but there are many vested interests that are opposed to it. The government appears hesitant and uncertain about its implementation.

In my view, this translates to a lack of political will.

The hesitation is a serious issue for KL and has resulted in traffic problem worsening every year, causing unnecessary delays and economic losses.

Leadership and Decisiveness

This fear is unfounded. In fact, by avoiding the issue, the government only weakens its credibility and authority. Leaders who refuse to take decisive action risk being perceived as weak and ineffective.

For how much longer must KL endure daily its traffic gridlock?

Conclusion

The congestion charge must be implemented immediately to control traffic flow before the situation worsens further.

However, this measure must be accompanied by:

• reducing parking spaces in the city centre
• eliminating street parking
• raising parking fees significantly to discourage driving into the city.

Without these complementary measures, the traffic system will not function effectively.

FAQs

Why is the government hesitant to implement a congestion charge?

The government appears hesitant due to opposition from car lobbyists and the lucrative car parking business in the city centre.

What is the solution to KL’s traffic congestion?

The solution lies in implementing a congestion charge, accompanied by reduced parking spaces, eliminating street parking, and raising parking fees to discourage driving into the city.

What are the benefits of a congestion charge?

A congestion charge would reduce the number of vehicles on the road, push more people towards using public transport, and reduce traffic gridlock.

What are the costs of congestion?

Traffic congestion wastes time, money, and energy, affecting workers, businesses, and city residents, and has significant economic and social costs.