KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider implementing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in the area where the proposed PJD link was scrapped, said an Amanah leader.

Petaling Jaya Amanah secretary Ammar Atan said the BRT system, which involves dedicated bus lanes at street-level or using overpasses, is more feasible compared to building new highways in an effort to alleviate road congestion.

He said the BRT project would be more cost-effective and could benefit those in the low and middle income groups.

"Petaling Jaya Amanah hopes that the BRT can be studied for the benefit of the Petaling Jaya people.

"We believe it will be a good model to be expanded in other areas with high traffic volume," said Ammar in a statement today.

He said the BRT could also be connected to other public transportation systems such as the light rail transit (LRT), mass rapid transit (MRT) and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd ( KTM) Komuter to ensure that commuters enjoy seamless connections.

If necessary, a new highway could be built, but with a new alignment that totally avoids or minimally passes through residential areas, he said.

"The people cannot wait for years for a solution as experienced under previous governments."

He said cancelling the PJD Link highway project without any alternatives was unjustified as traffic congestion was worsening in the area.

The government recently announced it would not proceed with the PJD Link project as the concessionaire failed to fulfil six of the 11 conditions set by the federal government.

The PJD Link would have connected the north and south of Petaling Jaya, passing through Petaling Jaya Utara, Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Petaling Jaya city centre, Taman Dato' Harun, Taman Medan Baru, Taman Sri Manja, Bandar Kinrara and Bukit Jalil Technology Park.

Following the government's announcement of the project's being scrapped, residents had also recently urged the government to commit to rejecting all future urban tolled elevated highways passing through mature neighbourhoods.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1042892/amanah-suggests-brt-line-alternative-alleviate-traffic-congestion-pj