KUCHING, Feb 22: Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin recently led a delegation from Sarawak to see Japan’s Automated Guideway Transit (AGT), Light Rapid Transit (LRT), and Transit Oriented Development (TOD).
Lee believed some elements of Japan’s public transportation system can be implemented in the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and Automated Rapid Transit (ART) projects.
He pointed out Japan’s AGT vehicles run on wheels, which is very similar to Sarawak’s ART project, and so he believed that the fare and non-fare facilities available along the AGT alignments could be emulated by KUTS to generate revenue.
Meanwhile, the delegates also had the opportunity to visit the newly completed LRT network in Utsunomiya where they were briefed on its traffic management and operation system.
“We had a good idea on the engineering and management of the new light rail system in Utsunomiya and the town’s population is almost similar to Kuching,” said Lee in a statement today.
Additionally, Lee said TOD at Hiroshima could also be adopted for the KUTS project.
While in Japan, the delegation met with Japan’s Assistant Vice Minister for International Affairs from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Takakuwa.
Among others in the Sarawak delegation were Assistant Transport Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Transport Ministry permanent-secretary Dato Ir Alice Jawan Empaling, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa, and senior management from the Transport Ministry and Sarawak Metro. — DayakDaily
