LETTERS: Traffic between Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur has become unbearable. All three major highways linking the state and federal capitals are at gridlock, except during holidays.
I was able to drive between KL and Shah Alam in 30 minutes during the Chinese New Year week, but it took around two hours during peak periods on normal days.
Bus and KTM Komuter services do not provide speedier and more convenient travel due to numerous reasons. It may end up taking longer.
Our only hope is the LRT3, but it will open only in early 2024. It will connect the four biggest and most populous cities: Klang, Shah Alam, part of Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur (via LRT1 or MRT1).
The construction of LRT3 has exposed us to another issue. Some stations are on one side of a highway and may not benefit people on the other side if a link, bridge or road system is not well-designed and built.
Some interchange stations are a bit too far and may need a direct pedestrian bridge. Some stations are elevated too high and need an extensive escalator and lift system. And, despite the distance between stations, which seems near on the alignment map, the road and traffic conditions are another concern.
This is because all the stations have limited or poor road access. The original study in 2015 about the stations was the best one but everything changed post- 2018 general elections as the new government slashed the budget and cancelled some stations.
LRT3 was renamed LRT Shah Alam. Each section in Shah Alam is a huge residential or commercial area of its own.
There are 24 sections in central Shah Alam (not including 30 other sections north and south of Shah Alam).
For now, we just have 6 to 7 confirmed stations in Shah Alam, including a revived underground station to cater for all residents of Sections 9,10,11,12 and 15.
What about the Temasya, Section 2/SIRIM and Bukit Raja stations? What about the station for Persiaran Tropicana PJ and Taman Botani Klang?
We need to maximise the number of stations along the route to benefit as many people as possible along the corridor. However, the cost to add stations, as previously planned, will be hefty.
M.A.A.
Shah Alam, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times