Advertorial: Plan and stick to your travel plan

It’s time to head back to Klang Valley and the people are urged to follow PLUS’ Travel Time Advisory (TTA) for their journey.

Chief operating officer Mohammad Fuad Khusairi said: “Based on our studies and observations, TTA has proven to be an effective formula in minimising traffic congestion and promoting smoother travel up to 50 per cent on the North-South Expressway during the previous festive seasons.

“As such, PLUS continues to issue the TTA this year to help the people plan their balik kampung travel as well as their journey back to the Klang Valley.”

The TTA is aimed at distributing traffic and reducing congestion on the mainline, major toll plazas, rest areas and lay-bys during peak periods. It consists of recommended staggered travel times for various destinations from the Klang Valley to major states and cities in Kedah, Perlis, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor and Singapore. It is aimed at distributing traffic and reducing congestion on the mainline, major toll plazas, rest areas and lay-bys during peak periods.

PLUS expects traffic on the NSE will increase to 1.4 million vehicles a day compared with 1.1 million vehicles a day on normal days this festive season.

Enjoy 30 per cent rebate

PLUS highway users paying toll electronically will be able to enjoy a 30 per cent toll rebate on August 15, 16, 22, 23 and 31 during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Merdeka holidays.

Managing director and chief executive o cer Datuk Noorizah Hj Abd Hamid said: “The toll rebate will be given to users paying toll electronically using the PLUSMiles cards, Touch ‘n Go cards or the SmartTAG at PLUS-operated highways. It is our way of rewarding our customers this festive season and is part of our efforts to encourage the people to switch to the electronic toll payment system which is easier and faster.”

She added that the toll rebate can be redeemed at all PLUS customer service centres from October 1 until December 31 this year. However, the toll rebate will not be offered to those paying toll electronically at the Tanjung Kupang, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and the Penang Bridge toll plazas.

“Paying toll electronically will result in smoother and faster passage at toll plazas,” said Noorizah.

PLUSMiles, Touch ‘n Go cards and SmartTAG units are available at all customer service centres at major toll plazas along the North-South Expressway.

Latest traffic feed on Twitter

Highway users can now get latest traffc updates on PLUS-operated highways through its Twitter service at www.twitter.com/plustrafik.

Corporate Communications senior manager Mohd Nizam Ismail said: “The PLUSTrafi k Twitter service is part of PLUS’ continuous efforts to inform highways users of tra c updates on the North-South Expressway (NSE), ELITE Highway, the NKVE, Federal Highway Route 2, the Secondlink Highway, the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, the Penang Bridge and the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway.”

Since its inception in January last year, the PLUSTrafi k Twitter page has a following of more than 75,000 users.

Apart from Twitter, traffic updates are also available through electronic message boards at strategic locations along the highways.

Highway users can also ask for the latest traffic updates through the toll-free PLUSLine (1800 88 0000) which is available 24 hours a day.

Bracing for traffic increase

PLUS will be taking various steps to help the public enjoy a more comfortable journey on the highway this Hari Raya Aidifitri season, with focus on traffi c distribution and efficient traffic management. In addition, the following strategies will also be taken:

• All construction and maintenance works will be temporarily suspended between August 16 and 27, and from August 30 and September 2.

• Temporary closure of all Reload Lanes at toll plazas from August 17 until August 26.

• Provide Reload ‘n Go facility at 25 petrol stations on the PLUS highway to enable the public to top-up their PLUSMiles or Touch ‘n Go cards. The Reload ‘n Go counters will be available between August 17 until September 2.

• 40 per cent increase in manpower at the mainline, toll plazas and rest areas.

• Opening up 1,500 toll counters at toll plazas (50 per cent increase).

• Assigning Rela personnel at toll plazas and rest areas for general traffic management.

• Increasing the number of PLUSRonda teams and rounds (15 per cent increase).

• Co-operating with emergency response teams such as the police, Fire Department, St John Ambulance, Red Crescent and Civil Defence Department to be on standby at 12 strategic locations along the North-South Expressway.

• Provide cranes at 18 strategic locations.

• Additional parking areas and portable toilets at selected rest areas and toll plazas.

• Provide free energy drink and coffee at selected rest areas.

Faster passage at toll plaza

Fuad said: “A SmartTAG lane can accommodate about 1,000 toll transactions in one hour as compared to only 240 transactions via a normal cash lane, while a Touch ‘n Go lane can accommodate 600 transactions in an hour.”

This clearly shows that electronic toll system is much easier, faster and more e cient than the normal cash lane.

“As such, we advise the people to switch to electronic toll system to enjoy faster passage at toll plaza this festive season.”

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