Please Attend! MBPJ Town Hall Meeting with SPAD

There will be a meeting organized by MBPJ to discuss the MRT project. Officers from SPAD will be present.

Details are as below:

Date: Thursday, 28th April 2011
Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm
Place: Dewan Sivik, Majilis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya

Kindly be sure that your community is represented and that your voice is heard.
CLICK HERE to read the official notice.

Petition To Take MRT Underground

Our cause has recently been featured on Saturday's Star Metro.

By YIP YOKE TENG
teng@thestar.com.my

Residents of Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Damansara Utama and Damansara Kim have started a signature campaign to urge the Government to bring the Sungai Buloh- Kajang MRT line underground.

They are concerned about the various impacts on the environment anticipated from the proposed elevated track and stations in the area.

They felt some stretches of the proposed alignment that are too close to the houses will lead to air, noise and water pollution as well as higher risk of crime. Also if the stations are not strategically located, it will worsen traffic conditions.

Sarma: We feel that as a country, we should not look at the MRT as a short-term investment.

The environmental impact assessment commissioned by the government has acknowledged the same concerns. Furthermore, businesses in certain areas may be affected.

Coordinator of the Joint Residents’ Associations Aaron Sarma said the residents felt taking the train lines underground would be the best option to prevent the potential problems.

He cited the Kelana Jaya and Ampang Park LRT stations as examples, adding that the size of the new stations are expected to be three times that of the LRT.

“Building the MRT underground means you can place the station at the most strategic points. Traffic can therefore be reduced as there is less need to ferry the passengers to the stations.

“The Kelana Jaya LRT station is plagued by parking woes and traffic congestions while the case is less serious at the Ampang Park station as it is located right underneath the centre of activities,” he said.

He added the authorities had objected to an underground MRT due to high costs, but it would be a necessary investment for the long run.

“We feel that as a country, we should not look at it as a short-term investment. Singapore’s MRT has been running for 30 years while London’s Underground has been in operation since 1985*.

“Also, going underground has other cost advantages. It is expandable, and you do not need to go around buildings and highways. Furthermore, Bandar Utama City Corporation director Datuk Teo Chiang Kok has agreed to adopt the station at Bandar Utama.

“You can place the stations right at the catchment area if they are underground. For instance, you can have one station in between 1Utama and The Curve shopping malls, instead of putting it at Sri Pentas which is awkward,” he said.

The group is reaching out to more people under an effort called the Klang Valley MRT Watch, which is publicised through an official blog (kvmrtwatch.blogspot.com), Facebook (gounderground) and Twitter (@kvmrtwatch).

They target to get at least 20,000 signatures for the petition.

A separate online petition has also been started, it has already received 213 signatures in three weeks after it was put up.

The petition will be submitted to Land Transport Commission (SPAD) in May, closing date of the petition is April 30.

For further details, email kvmrtwatch@gmail.com

CLICK HERE to read it on The Star Online

*Note: There may be a slight confusion with regards to when the London Underground was built. The official London Underground website says that while the London Underground was formed under a body called the London Regional Charter in 1985, the first underground train  was built between Paddington and Ferringdon Street in 1863.  Therefore this makes the underground 148 years old. 

No more secrets, please

Columnist Leow Mei Chern, made mention of this blog in the pages of The Sun. 

"We waste a lot of time in trying to access information to make informed decisions. The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has promised to consider all feedback obtained during the three-month period before proceeding with the MRT project. A transparent process and longer period for feedback would certainly enable communities to better organise themselves; a factor perhaps deemed as a hindrance if one needs to expedite a project.


Despite the less than favourable conditions for communities to take part in meaningful ways, residents associations in parts of Klang Valley have come together to make a united stand and petition at http://kvmrtwatch.blogspot.com/, calling for a responsible implementation of the MRT and outlining reasons why it should go underground. We must engage and hold decision-makers to account."

For the full article please CLICK HERE

TTDI residents prefer MRT underground

Originally posted in the Star on the 26th of February 2011

I WRITE in support of ‘Unite for a better MRT’ (The Star, Feb 24) for the authorities to consider constructing the MRT underground.

The cost of construction is said to be more than double compared with the overhead one but in the long run the benefits will be substantial. Please give it due consideration.

I live in Pinggir Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), at the section where the MRT will most likely run parallel to my house.

My neighbours and I will face the brunt of the noise and environmental pollution that comes with this possible route.

I think it is very unkind and thoughtless to call us selfish, anti-development and anti-progress. Most of my neighbours (many are senior citizens) have contributed in many ways to the progress and success of Malaysia.

If going underground for MRT is NOT an option, can the authorities consider re-allocating us elsewhere in the TTDI area? This is a win-win situation.

The MRT can acquire the existing area of our houses to convert to carparks, condominiums, shops and gardens.

Progress will be visible and blooming and we, the residents, will be spared the unbearable pollution and remain happy Malaysians.

Go 1Malaysia!

RETIREE @ PINGGIR ZAABA, Kuala Lumpur.

Click HERE to read it on The Star's website

Public Transport: Underground MRT can cut noise, dirt

Originally posted in the New Straits Times on the 25th of February 2011 by Zhang. C. G. 


I REFER to Ted Tugal's letter, "MRT plan deserves our support" (NST, Feb 23).
He missed the point. Overall, residents, especially in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Kota Damansara, are not against the mass rapid transit project.

The call is for the elevated track to go underground. The elevated track running over the Persiaran Surian and Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong will have trains running metres away from thousands of homes, making it intolerable to live due to noise and pollution, and the frequency of trains passing through every few minutes.

It is not that there are no alternative solutions. There are well-based and sound reasons for going underground.
Firstly, the MRT track is a "retro-fit", being force-squeezed over narrow road reserves. Poor planning has resulted in no provision of MRT reserves with buffers.

It would cost more to go underground, but the long-term benefits must override the short-term cost savings of construction. The noise and pollution would be permanent and damage would be recurring if this is not done. The scarring of the vista and the blocking of sunlight are also long-term detrimental factors.

The call of residents like me is for a holistic evaluation of the options.

Click HERE to read it on the NST Website

Residents want MRT underground

More residents support our case for an underground MRT.


Here's an article from the Star:
"ABOUT 50 residents from Bukit Bandaraya in Bangsar had a meeting with the authorities over the proposed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang line, particularly along the Sprint Highway stretch."


Click HERE to read the full article.

Backbencher Cautions Over Anticipated Higher Cost Of MRT Project

From BERNAMA:

"The (feasibility) study has yet to be done, but the tender forms are already out. I feel that while we go for greater urbanisation of cities to become a developed nation, the government should not get sidetracked into developing one area and neglecting another ... Focusing on rail communication and not improving the bus services will not solve the (transportation) problem. Furthermore, the MRT stations are not going to be linked to other stations such as KL Sentral which serves the LRT (Light Rail Transit), commuter and rail services to the rural areas," 

Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan)

Read the full article HERE

Detailed Environmental Impact Assesment

In the course of some meetings we have been having with residents over the last few days some have asked us to provide support for some of the concerns we have expressed in our petition. Because of this we felt it is important that we provide you, our readers with the EIA report provided on the webpage of the Department of Environment. You will notice that the preamble for our petition has been taken from the conclusions in this report.

Please CLICK HERE to download the report for your perusal.

Be On Top - Build It Underground

Here's an opinion piece written by Mr. Johnny Soon of Mutiara Damansara Owners and Residents Association (MUDORA) originally posted in The Star. 


---
Tuesday, 15th February 2011

I AM pleased that an MRT line has been proposed along Persiaran Surian to serve the huge community and residential and commercial activities in Sunway Damansara, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Utama and TTDI, and the fringe areas surrounding these popular destinations.

But the MRT Line running through Persiaran Surian is planned to be built above ground instead of underground, which is preferred by residents in these locations.

These are advantages to siting the MRT line and stations underground:

> Noise pollution from moving trains is cut off, resulting in a cleaner environment and enhanced aesthetic value of surrounding areas without the unsightly pillars and beams. Many unsightly stations are found in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya serviced by the LRT and monorail running overhead.

> There is flexibility of land use for future expansion of infrastructure, namely, highways, roads, bridges, flyovers, buildings, especially in Kota Damansara.

> There is better and proper management of surface traffic to complement pick-up and ride stations and pedestrian pathways.

> Combining the Mutiara Damansara and Bandar Utama stations into one mega station below the present driving range, linked by passage ways to Curve/Ikano and One Utama, will provide protection from inclement weather. Having one station at this location will provide better management of facilities, as land is available for feeder buses, taxis and coaches.

> Having one station provides a good alternative for revellers to use the MRT instead of cars, especially during mega sales by shopping malls and during seasonal festivities.

> As the Curve, Ikano/Ikea, Tesco and One Utama have been earmarked for an International Tourism Zone by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), an underground station will complement this development. This will enhance the value of surrounding properties and project an iconic image for Petaling Jaya and Malaysia in general.

> Both sides of Persiaran Surian is already built up, with residential houses, apartments, condominiums, shops and mega shopping malls. This road is too narrow to accommodate an elevated MRT line and stations with twin tracks. The overhead tracks will be too close to the existing houses.

> The existing roads can hardly cope with daily traffic, and beams and pillars will result in narrower vehicle lanes. Land is no longer available for road widening near Persiaran Surian tunnel let alone pathways for pedestrians thereby endangering the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

> There is lack of provision for a pick up/drop off point at Persiaran Surian near the proposed station at Surian Tower. The existing narrow road will be further constricted as motorists will park their cars or wait to pick up passengers. Taman Bahagia and Kelana Jaya LRT stations are good examples of motorists disregarding the “No Waiting” signs.

Therefore, it makes good sense to relocate Mutiara Damansara station nearer to the golf driving range, combining it with One Utama.

There will be less disruption to surface traffic during construction if the MRT station and line is below ground. Imagine the loss in productivity in spending more time on the road besides the stress should the line be built above ground.

Besides, the residents near the MRT lines will be greatly affected by noise and other pollution during above ground construction.

To read the original article - CLICK HERE

Grassroots Petition Launched!

We met with the Residents Associations of Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Mutiara Damansara, Kota Damansara and Damansara Utama on Monday, the 28th of February 2011. As of right now, you may contact your local Residents Association for copies of the physical version of the petition.

If you need a copy of the petition, please feel to email us at kvmrtwatch@gmail.com and we will send a soft copy right to you. Kindly be sure to identify your street name and residential area to assist us in ensuring that all areas are sufficiently covered by the petition.

We can make this happen!

New Facebook Group!

We now have a Facebook group to garner more support for our petition. Visit us at facebook.com/gounderground or click the link on the right.

Unite for a better MRT

From The Star Online


"Our call is for the MRT to be constructed taking the long term benefits of the community and not merely the short term one-off cost saving of the cheaper elevated track as opposed to going underground."

Read the whole article HERE

Land acquisition by govt takes into account residents affected

From The Star

LAND Public Transport Commission (LPTC) CEO Mohd Nur Kamal said the commission had taken note the concerns of Taman Tun Dr Ismail residents regarding the notice of land acquisition for the construction of the Klang Valley MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang line

READ MORE

Go Underground - KVMRT Petition has been launched!

Our page at Petition Site

Our online petition has been launched. To sign our petition please click HERE.

We will also be releasing hard copies of this petition to local Resident Associations. If you would like a copy of this petition please email us at kvmrtwatch@gmail.com

We will be more than happy to send you the file.

Residents, shops rail at KL's MRT project

Singapore's Straits Times newspaper has great article that talks about the shortfalls of the current MRT proposal.

Here's an excerpt:

An environmental impact assessment (EIA), commissioned by the government and released on Tuesday, surveyed only 675 people on the proposed line, expected to have a daily ridership of 442,000.
The EIA report acknowledged that thousands of residents who live near the project will suffer from noise, air and water pollution, as well as traffic congestion. It also said that businesses in certain areas would potentially lose customers, especially those that depend on the local neighbourhood.

Read the full article HERE

MRT a rush job, needs more study

From "The Malaysian Insider"
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Putrajaya may have rushed through the RM36.6 billion mass rapid transit (MRT) for the Klang Valley without considering issues such as the traffic congestion it hopes to reduce or the increased congestion at the stations, a research group said today.
READ MORE