Rapid Bus says there has been an increase in ridership since the trial bus lane in Jalan Kelang Lama was implemented.— Filepic
KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has made adjustments to the trial bus lane project on Jalan Kelang Lama and Jalan Puchong following public feedback and for safety improvements.
A spokesperson from DBKL’s Urban Transportation Department said the changes included reducing the dedicated bus lane along Jalan Puchong and making some modifications to the Jalan Kelang Lama section.
“The Jalan Puchong bus lane was reduced by about 600m, while the bus lane at the Jalan Kelang Lama-Jalan Desa intersection was modified to allow cars to use it to switch lanes.
“We made some adjustments based on our evaluation of the stretch, alongside feedback from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), Rapid Bus and Transport Ministry,” said the spokesperson, adding that the changes were implemented in phases and completed by the end of November.
“We realised that the Jalan Kelang Lama stretch was particularly challenging, especially during peak hours, when the number of buses plying the stretch is high.”
The trial bus lane project was launched on Aug 15 this year, amid a myriad of complaints from stakeholders living in and around Jalan Kelang Lama and Puchong, Selangor.
However, Rapid Bus said the decision to create the bus lane on Jalan Kelang Lama was influenced by positive results from earlier trials on Jalan Ampang and Jalan Genting Kelang, which showed increased ridership and reduced travel time.
Adjustments were made during the trial, including converting sections of bus lanes into mixed lanes and adding more signage based on public feedback.
These efforts were part of a broader plan announced under Budget 2025, which included upgrading bus stops and developing 47km of new dedicated bus lanes along key routes.
In a statement, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Ku Jamil Zakaria said Rapid Bus and DBKL had been gathering feedback and data on the necessary improvements for the Jalan Kelang Lama trial bus lane.
“Coordination meetings were held between all relevant parties to finalise and streamline the improvement efforts.
“On Nov 25, we realigned the bus lane to minimise confusion among road users.
“This helped reduce traffic congestion, allowing the movement of buses and other vehicles in the area to become more efficient,” he said.
Ku Jamil said that since its inception on Aug 15, the trial bus lane on Jalan Kelang Lama recorded a 6% increase in ridership (from 7,900 to 8,400) and an 11% reduction in travel time (from 81 minutes to 72 minutes), compared to the period before the project was introduced.
“To accommodate the increased ridership, Rapid Bus has added three more buses to the route,” he said.
StarMetro had earlier reported that motorists in Jalan Kelang Lama and Jalan Puchong were calling for the dedicated bus lane project to be scrapped due to gridlocks and confusion.
Seputeh Residents Representative Council chairman Alvin T. Ariaratnam said he had observed DBKL contractors removing the lines along Jalan Puchong two weeks ago.
“So far, it has had very little impact on the congestion.
“The road remains narrow and we are still stuck in gridlock,” said Alvin, adding that he preferred having the bus lane permanently removed.
“Even with the changes, the traffic situation hasn’t improved much.
“The lanes are still confusing for many drivers, and during peak hours, it feels like nothing has changed,” said Taman Desa resident James Nathan.
