An artist’s impression of a pedestrian path at Jalan SS16/2 in Subang Jaya.
Better walkability is being planned for the heart of Subang Jaya in Selangor.
Town planners are coming up with strategies to connect people and places in a comfortable and user-friendly manner.
The plan also aims to unlock potential urban spaces in the city that can improve people’s quality of life.
Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) Planning Department town planner Shazwani Mohammad Sahlan said the city had great potential to encourage walking.
“Our aim is to create walkable paths to encourage people to use their feet.
“We will retrofit Subang Jaya’s urban environment with wider paths to accommodate two wheelchairs side by side, as well as use non-slip finishes for pavements, railings, ramps and low kerbs at intersections for pedestrian safety.
“Walkable areas must be convenient and comfortable, and the infrastructure must have connectivity with mass transit and equipped with pedestrian crossings,” she said, adding that it was challenging to retrofit some areas that were focused more on vehicles rather than pedestrians.
Shazwani said MBSJ carried out a pedestrian census and did research before drawing up a strategy to improve walkability.
“Foot traffic audits are important as they help in design.
“The routes will be well lit, tree-lined and pass through neighbourhoods, transit-oriented developments, bus stops and retail areas,” she said.
Walkable paths are crucial as they help increase interaction by giving people a chance to meet others, she added.
“MBSJ has six walkability projects, of which four have been completed.
Ng looks forward to seeing the walkability plans for Subang Jaya realised.“They are at Jalan Taqwa in Persiaran Puchong Permai (600m) that links to the light rail transit (LRT) with an estimated cost of RM450,000, Persiaran Puchong Prima (650m) costing RM500,000, Bandar Puteri 1 commercial area (250m) costing RM100,000 and Jalan Kenari in Puchong Jaya which cost RM350,000,” said Shazwani.
She said another two walking paths under construction at Jalan Bandar Puchong Jaya (250m) which cost RM400,000 and Jalan Puchong Utama 3 (200m) worth RM110,000 would be completed soon.
“All six are short-term plans. Our long-term plans for better walkability in more dense areas will stretch until 2035, and include SS13, SS15, SS16, Bandar Kinrara, Putra Heights, Puchong Jaya and USJ 7.
“Footpaths in these areas will link to the LRT,” she said.
MBSJ, she said, has plans in the pipeline to create a 3m-wide micro-mobility walk and cycle path at Jalan SS16/2, Persiaran Jengka to Jalan SS15/5G, Persiaran Kewajipan and Persiaran Subang. (see graphic)
Shazwani added that MBSJ has formed a Barrier-Free City Audit team in 2018.
It carried out checks on walkability infrastructure that developers have completed to ensure they followed the Universal Design and Accessibility in Built Environment (MS1184:2014) standard, she said.
MBSJ wanted developers to build townships with conducive pedestrian walkways.
Shazwani says infrastructure for walkways must have connectivity to mass transit.
“We have made it a requirement through the Development Order (DO) that developers build wider walkways with proper lighting and kerbside designs to enable access to people with disabilities,” she said.
Shazwani added that during submission of the design plans, developers must comply with the standard or their project would be rejected by the council’s One Stop Centre (OSC).
MBSJ also plans to get developers to provide sheltered walking paths to encourage more people to walk.
“We want to push for a walkable Subang Jaya as it will make the city more attractive and lead to happier and healthier residents.
“Our planning framework covers pedestrian safety for children and older adults,” she said.
Shazwani also said the elderly population in Subang Jaya was growing.
“Most seniors stop driving by a certain age, so improving walkability is key to ensure they maintained good physical and mental health, are socially active and remain mobile,” she said.
Shazwani added that in 2020, statistics showed a population of 30,450 people aged 60 to 64 in Subang Jaya.
This figure would increase to 40,589 next year, while in 2035 the number is projected to grow to 71,395.
The population of those aged 65 to 69 is expected to be 27,332 next year while in 2035, the figure is expected to increase to 46,383.
“A walkable Subang Jaya will see reduced carbon emissions and improved physical health among people, both young and old.”
Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said walkable paths were crucial to support the use of public transport.
“MBSJ’s Planning Department has done a good job,” she said.
Ng added that town planners needed to work together with the council’s Engineering Department to execute the plan immediately.
“I look forward to seeing these plans realised,” she said.
