By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 6: The Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) has proposed the continued expansion of public transport networks, including the implementation of dedicated bus lanes and enhanced bus signal priority systems, to alleviate traffic congestion in Sarawak’s main cities.
Its Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, stated that this solution was inspired by a recent benchmarking visit to Seoul, South Korea, where the public transport system—comprising over 7,000 buses, dedicated bus lanes, and an extensive MRT network—has effectively alleviated traffic congestion in the city.
“We have just started to replace the old buses in Miri City recently with the launching of a new fleet of buses and Kuching City is set to receive 56 new buses next year.
“Construction works on the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) using Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) are in progress. The Red Line is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2026,” he said in a statement following the conclusion of the Sarawak Urban Traffic Management Committee meeting on Monday (Nov 4).
Lee also mentioned that the ministry has proposed new transport initiatives, such as promoting the park-and-ride concept.
“The park-and-ride model, which allows commuters to park at peripheral locations and take the bus to the city centre is seen as a promising solution to reduce the number of vehicles entering congested urban areas,” he added.
Notably, the ministry is exploring ways to encourage more sustainable mobility options, such as cycling and walking.
However, he stressed, this will require changes to Sarawak’s urban planning and infrastructure, such as the construction of more covered walkways and safer, more accessible cycling routes.
In addition to improving public transport, the meeting discussed the use of technology to optimise traffic management.
“The ministry has been piloting new technology on the implementation of bus signal priority systems, which give buses green light priority at traffic junctions, reducing delays and improving punctuality,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
