Engaging Public Transport Users Conference on Urban Mass Transit 16-17 March 2009

Presentation Structure Introductions – who we are Resolving Public Transport Issues in Malaysia Regulation has to change Organization has to change A New Model for Public Transport Making it happen Conclusion

So…who are you? The Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (TRANSIT), Klang Valley A diverse group of public transport users A united voice for the passenger Our Goal to ensure the voice of the passenger is heard in public transport planning, regulation, and operations To increase awareness about what public public transport can bring to our communities

Resolving Public Transport Issues in Malaysia FACT: Public transport provides 3 functions for society Mobility for those not using private transport Development tool to reduce infrastructure costs A business operation with potential for profits Investment in public transport is investment in critical communications infrastructure Far less money has been invested properly into public transport than in other infrastructure

Why don’t “choice users” choose to use public transport? TRIP (Mass) transit journey is too tiring ROUTE Transit routes are very complicated PLATFORM Transit points are not accessible

To make people use public transport… TRIP (Mass) transit journey is too tiring ROUTE Transit routes are very complicated PLATFORM Transit points are not accessible MAKE TRIP FAST AND COMFORTABLE MAKE GETTING TO PLACES SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD MAKE TRANSFERS CONVENIENT AND HASSLE FREE

The bottom line of public transport… MAKE TRIP FAST AND COMFORTABLE MAKE GETTING TO PLACES SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD MAKE TRANSFERS CONVENIENT AND HASSLE FREE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS in: Accessibility Availability Reliability Safety Comfort The measurement of performance is the key, because…… If you can’t measure it, you can’t control it… If you can’t control it, you can’t manage it… If you can’t manage it, you can’t improve it. But who watches and measures the KPI???

So? Do we appreciate and understand all functions of public transport when we plan, regulate, and operate these services? Ensuring universal accessibility? Enhancing development and reducing infrastructure costs? Have we maximized the benefits and minimized the costs? Are we planning ahead or planning too late? Are all stakeholders engaged and valued?

Integrated Mass-Transit Network? Consultation after the fact Various announcements of LRT extensions made in 2006 & 2007 Consultant appointed in August 2008 Consultant requests meeting with residents in Feb 2009 Consultant requests cancellation of meeting in Mar 2009 No further updates

The current system cannot work because: The single most important competitor to public transport is private transport Taxpayers’ money has not been used to fund common infrastructure to support public transport the way it is used to build and maintain roads for cars. TRIP Collective movement of people ROUTE Servicing common corridor with greater efficiency PLATFORM Facilitated by pooled resources (stations, street signals, dedicated lanes etc) Operators pitted against each other will take every cost savings they can get away with in absence of any reasonable standards, regulations and enforcement Mass transit vehicles SHARE travel space with private vehicles Operators maximize whatever they can squeeze from any loophole in public infrastructure (i.e. loitering of parked buses, unruly road hogging and speeding)

Regulation has to change Public transport is not coordinated Various disconnected services operated by various disconnected corporations Some important questions Why are government corporations competing with private corporations? Will the S.P.A.D. be just another agency? (#14) Does the government have a clear, realistic plan for public transport? Are government and operators listening to us?

Who does what in public transport This highly systemic and strategic task should be entrusted to a centralized authority with a high-level of legislative and enforcement powers TRIP Collective movement of people ROUTE Servicing common corridor with greater efficiency PLATFORM Facilitated by pooled resources (stations, street signals, dedicated lanes etc) This operational task is typically taken by private or quasi-government operators. Pooled resources refer to commonly shared infrastructures funded by taxpayers. Ownership by local and regional level authorities is a must.

Change the regulation… Public Transport is a “rakyat issue” The people must be engaged to use, support, and keep watch in public transport A Centralized Authority (S.P.A.D.) will: Create national standards for public transport Integrate planning with National Physical Plan Determine funding needs and provide funds Invest in critical improvements to infrastructure

Change the regulation… Local / Regional Authorities are empowered to carry out the regulation of public transport with public/user feedback Local / Regional Authorities would be integrated with economic growth regions Focus on local and regional planning as identified in the National Physical Plan Ownership of crucial public transport infrastructure Provision of investment capital and funding

A new model for public transport Authority  provides & owns all vital infrastructure (incl. routes) Operators  contracted to the Local or Regional Authority for a 3-5 year period Contract  through open tender and KPI Operators are paid a contract fee for services provided with additional incentives for meeting/exceeding KPI Feedback from passengers becomes vital

A new organizational model Fair allocation of risks and responsibilities between operators and authorities KPIs in: Accessibility Availability Reliability Safety Comfort INPUTS Taxpayers Money Infrastructure Technology Resources Labor OPERATORS’ SCOPE AUTHORITIES’ SCOPE COST EFFICIENCY COST EFFECTIVENESS CONSUMED OUTPUTS Passenger/mile Passenger/energy unit Infra. KPIs Service KPIs SERVICE EFFICIENCY PRODUCED OUTPUTS Journey covered/labor Operational cost/mile Vehicle seats/mile

TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES A new financing model Non-discriminating distribution of tax revenue and fee income to cover entire population FUNDING LOCAL / STATE GOVT Quit rent rates depend on proximity to transit connections Congestion charges, summons FEDERAL GOVT Taxes, royalties, duties, levies TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES PENALTY IF KPIs NOT MET PENALTY IF KPIs NOT MET AND DRIVING MANHOURS PAYOUTS BASED ON DISTANCE TRAVELLED UNIFORM FEE COLLECTION (integrated ticketing system) CIVIL DUTY COMMUTERS OPERATORS Contracted to: Private local GLC-funded local Private foreign EXTRA FEE FOR VALUE-ADDED SERVICE

The view from TRANSIT Consult with the public first; have real plans Go back to the RapidKL “hub-and-spoke” model used from 2006-2007 This time, we make it work! Authority builds vital infrastructure (hubs, lanes) Authority directs local gov’t to identify bus routes All bus operators under contract to Authority Packaging of “Areas” will combine lucrative trunk routes with express and suburban routes

TRANSIT’s Klang Valley Network Our “Strategic Plan” - Start from the basics Make the bus service work well Enhance the bus services by introducing critical infrastructure (lanes, hubs) Introduce “Quality Bus” or “Rapid Transit” services to improve speed, frequency, reliability Then, we invest for expansion How many passengers per direction per hour? Choose the appropriate technology to meet our needs  maximize benefits at the lowest cost!

Moving 10,000 passengers/d/h

So what does that mean? Rapid Transit on main roads (BRT, Trams) and expressways (ERT) is the best way to introduce rapid transit to more of the Klang Valley & other cities in Malaysia Uses the existing (and paid-for) road infrastructure Construction costs are lower so more km of routes can be built  reaches more people! Can be built faster and fine-tuned more easily to meet changing needs

ERT / BRT in action Images of Metrobus service from Istanbul, Turkey

Conclusion Understand what makes public transport works best (utilizing all 3 functions) Public Transport is a “rakyat issue” Involve the rakyat & value their feedback! S.P.A.D. plus Local / Regional Authority Gov’t management + Private operators Fair allocations: funding, resources & risks Maximize benefits, minimize costs! Keep it simple and make it work!

Thank you for your time Moaz Yusuf Ahmad On behalf of TRANSIT Moaz.ahmad@gmail.com 012-248-3330 On behalf of TRANSIT http://transitmy.org Klangvalley.transit@gmail.com klangvalley_transit-subscribe@yahoogroups.com