KUALA LUMPUR – The government is considering the development of a light rail transit (LRT) or autonomous rapid transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru and its surrounding districts to ease congestion once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is completed.
The project aims to improve public transport connectivity for residents, visitors, and workers in the state capital.
Johor’s state executive councillor for works, transportation, and infrastructure Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh told The Straits Times that the federal government plans to invite private sector proposals within the next four months to assess the feasibility of the two options.
“The timeline given to us by the government for initiation of the Request for Proposal exercise is the second quarter of this year,” he said.
The proposed ART system, an elevated driverless tram-bus running on virtual tracks, is estimated to cost RM7 billion, while the LRT network could reach RM20 billion.
The higher cost of the LRT is attributed to the need for extensive infrastructure, including tracks, stations, and depots, whereas ART operates on virtual tracks, reducing construction expenses. The project may be entirely privately funded or structured as a public-private partnership.
If approved, the LRT line in southern Johor would be the country’s third, following the Klang Valley and Penang LRT systems. The Klang Valley LRT, spanning multiple lines, has been operational since the 1990s and serves as a backbone for Kuala Lumpur’s public transport network. The Penang LRT or the Mutiara Line, which recently broke ground in January, aims to address traffic congestion on the island.
Although the government has endorsed the ART proposal, an LRT remains a possibility depending on private sector submissions.
“The idea is to complete it in two years to closely align with the completion of the RTS Link to ease congestion at Bukit Chagar station,” Fazli added.
The Transport Ministry, however, has not responded to The Straits Times’ queries regarding the initiative.
The RTS Link, a 4km rail shuttle connecting Singapore’s Woodlands North MRT station to Johor Bahru’s Bukit Chagar station, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
It is expected to handle up to 10,000 passengers per hour in one direction, with a daily ridership of around 40,000. Woodlands North MRT station also serves as the northern terminus of the Thomson-East Coast Line.
However, it remains uncertain whether the proposed LRT or ART system can be completed in tandem with the RTS Link. Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, founder of transport think-tank My Mobility Vision, emphasised the importance of a dispersal system to facilitate commuter movement in Johor Bahru.
“When large numbers of daily commuters start arriving at Bukit Chagar, the question is: How do we keep them moving efficiently to different parts of Johor Bahru? Simply relying on private vehicles or taxis could cause new traffic snarls,” he said, reported The Straits Times.
Drawing comparisons to the Oresund region between Denmark and Sweden, Wan Agyl highlighted the need for strong feeder systems to ensure seamless connectivity. However, he also pointed out that many Malaysians remain reliant on personal vehicles for daily commutes, making a shift to public transport a challenge.
The RTS Link is expected to alleviate congestion on the Johor-Singapore Causeway and Tuas Link. In March 2024, Johor Immigration data showed daily crossings had reached 430,000 to 450,000 people, surpassing pre-pandemic levels of 400,000 in 2019.
Fazli said that the proposed Wadi Hana ART station – located less than 300m from Bukit Chagar – would be connected to the RTS Link via an overhead bridge, providing access to Iskandar Puteri, Tebrau, and Skudai.
An LRT network extending from Johor Bahru to Iskandar Puteri and other districts could further support the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), an initiative formalised by both governments on 6 January.
Transport economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences noted that Johor’s current public transport system is limited, with only two bus providers operating in the state. He also highlighted the lack of transit-oriented development in Johor, where residential and commercial areas are not designed around public transport hubs.
“So it’s not as simple as just building it (an LRT or ART link to the RTS); it’s actually a question of whether you want to build a neighbourhood to be transit-oriented, otherwise, it will end up being a white elephant because people will want to drive their own vehicle.” – February 2, 2025