Expedite ART project, Johor MB urges Putrajaya

PETALING JAYA: Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has urged the government to expedite the implementation of an autonomous rapid transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru, especially with the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link commencing operations in 2027.

Onn Hafiz said his administration was in the midst of executing short- and medium-term measures to disperse congestion in the city through park-and-ride facilities, smart traffic management systems, and rearranging the movement of buses, taxis, and e-hailing vehicles at JB Sentral.

However, he said a long-term solution was needed and that the elevated ART system would meet that need, Berita Harian reported.

Onn Hafiz said the project was tabled to the Cabinet in 2024 but physical work had yet to commence.

“Johoreans are asking now, when will this project begin? When can we visit the project site? As far as I’m aware, the letter of award hasn’t been issued yet.

“And this project is expected to take four to five years to complete,” he added.

Once the RTS Link starts operating on Jan 1, he said an increase in passenger movement is expected to add pressure on Johor Bahru’s network of roads, necessitating a high-capacity and efficient public transport system.

The ART is a trackless, medium-capacity urban transit system that operates on rubber tyres.

In March, Onn Hafiz said the system had secured the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim as well as Tengku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.