First and last-mile connectivity on demand to be expanded to entire Selangor

PETALING JAYA: The demand-responsive transit (DRT) service, designed to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity for public transportation, will be available throughout Selangor starting March 1.

State investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han told StarMetro that the state government was finalising the DRT routes and zones to be expanded under the Selangor Mobility Initiative.

He said the DRT pilot project that ran from Nov 20, 2023, to July 31 last year, had benefitted some 73,032 commuters, with an average of 8,072 users per month.

“From Aug 1 to Dec 31 last year, the total number of DRT users increased to 98,904, with an average of 19,781 users per month.

“This represents a 145% growth compared to the pilot period,” he said.

Ng said the state government was currently drafting the “Selangor Mobility Master Plan Study” to address critical mobility issues across the 12 local councils in Selangor.

“We are also developing diverse connectivity solutions such as pedestrian pathways and the Selangor Kita Rail Line,” he said.

The proposed 211km Selangor Kita Rail Line will run from Sabak Bernam, pass through Sepang and extend into Negri Sembilan in the south.

Transit Malaysia vice-secretary Zac Cheong emphasised the need to consider efficiency, accessibility and user experience to further improve implementation of the DRT service.

“Currently, the DRT service is not fully optimised in terms of routes and schedules, leading to inefficiencies and longer waiting times.

“Improvements can be made by having real-time data analytics to ensure vehicles take the most efficient paths and reduce travel time,” he said when contacted by StarMetro.

Cheong also called for a comprehensive public awareness campaign about DRT service availability.

The DRT system allows users to book rides via an app.

Currently, there are two service providers under Selangor Mobility Initiative, namely Trek Rides and Mobi.

Services are available across 11 zones in Selangor, with Trek Rides operating in six (Puchong, Ampang, Hulu Kelang, Taman Keramat, Taman Melawati and Serdang) and Mobi operating in five (Taman Megah, Ara Damansara, Bandar Utama, Bandar Sunway and Subang Jaya’s USJ).

In addition to the Selangor Mobility Initiative, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd through its subsidiary RapidKL offers a DRT service that connects to some rail and bus lines.

In January, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Prasarana would introduce 300 new vans for DRT services, starting operations in stages from February to June.

This month, 10 new routes in the Klang Valley were also launched.