RAIL TRANSPORTATION DEMAND AND IMPACT STUDY FOR BATU PAHAT, KLUANG AND MERSING
MOHAMED WARSAME HASSAN
This project report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science in Railway Engineering
Centre of Graduate Studies
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia
JULY 20 1 5
ABSTRACT
The increasing dependency on private motor vehicles has brought massive traffic
congestion and thus, signalized notable demand for effective and efficient public
transportation. Rail transit system in Malaysia, particularly in Johor is required in-line
with the increasing concern for global environmental and climate change issues towards
socio-economic development and population growth in Johor. This study is conducted to
investigate the demand for rail transportation system which is proposed to link Batu
Pahat, Kluang and Mersing districts which are expected to experience rapid growth in
the near future. It is also conducted because currently, there is a remarkable socio-
economic development, traffic growth and fast urban growth in the selected study area.
However, it was found that there is no plan to establish a sustainable transportation
system specially a rail transportation system and this study is carried out to fill up this ,'
gap. The research methodology for this study is by several method of data collection
using traffic impact assessment, public survey, site observation, interviews with railway
industries and local authority. This is to investigate the current environmental status,
socio-economic and existing traffic condition of Batu Pahat, Kluang, Mersing districts.
It determines the needs to possibly link Batu Pahat, Kluang and Mersing using a rail
network, with the evaluation of the viable railway line alignment and its projected
impacts. From the study, it was found that approximately more than 60% of the response
showed that rail transportation is demanded along the study area. Traffic projections
indicated that about 3% of the year traffic growth and latest demographic statistics
forecasted growth of about 2% (Batu Pahat), 1% (Kluang), and 0.1% (Mersing) yearly
population growth. In conclusion it was found that if the railway route line proposed is
viable and has a potential as future public transportation especially to connect Batu
Pahat, Kluang and Mersing towns, implementing this Johor East-West rail network
project will be able to heighten the environmental performance, socio-economic growth
and the mobility of the townships population concerned.
ABSTRAK
Kebergantungan terhadap kepenggunaan kenderaan persendirian adalah satu
kebimbangan yang berkemungkinan mengakibatkan kesesakan trafik yang kritikal dan
ini memerlukan wujudnya satu sistem pengangkutan awam yang efektif dan lancar.
Sistem pengangkutan re1 di Malaysia khususnya di Johor adalah perlu sejajar dengan isu
terhadap keprihatinan tentang alam sekitar dan perubahan cuaca global, pertumbuhan
ekonomi dan pertambahan penduduk yang pesa. Kajian ini dilaksanakan bagi menyiasat
keperluan wujudnya sistem pengangkutan re1 dan cadangan satu sistem re1 yang
menghubungkan di antara daerah Batu Pahat, Kluang dan Mersing yang dijangka akan
mengalami pembangunan yang pesat. Kajian ini dijalankan disebabkan terdapat
pembangunan sosio-ekonomi yang ketara dengan pertambahan trafik dan pertumbuhan
bandar yang cepat di kawasan yang dipilih. Manakala, pada masa yang sama, terdapat
kekurangan perancangan bagi mewujudkan sistem pengangkutan yang lestari
terutamanya sistem pengangkutan re1 dan kajian ini dijangka akan dapat memenuhi
kekurangan yang berlaku. Metodologi kajian ini dilaksanakan dengan menggunakan ,'
penilaian imp& trafik (Traffic Impact Assessment), soal selidik terhadap orang awam,
pemerhatian di tapak, temubual dengan pihak industri dan pihak berkuasa rel. Ia perlu
bagi menyiasat keadaan semasa bagi persekitaran, sosio-ekonomi dan trafik di sepanjang
laluan Batu Pahat, Kluang dan Mersing. Ia juga akan menentukan keperluan jaringan re1
dengan penilaian laluan yang paling sesuai dan jangkaan impak yang akan berlaku. Di
akhir kajian ini, ia mendapati bahawa anggaran Iebih 60% daripada responden
menunjukkan pengangkutan re1 adalah diperlukan. Unjuran trafik menunjukkan bahawa
pertambahan trafik adalah dalam anggaran 3% setahun dan statistic demografik
menjangkakan bahawa kadar pertumbuhan trafik sebanyak 2% (Batu Pahat), 1%
(Kluang) dan 0.1% (Mersing) setahun. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini mendapati jika laluan
re1 yang dicadangkan adalah viable dan berpotensi sebagai pengangkutan awam masa
depan di antara Batu Pahat, Kluang dan Mersing. Ia juga dijangka akan menjadi projek
jaringan re1 Timur-Barat Johor yang mampu membawa pembangunan kepada kawasan
kajian di samping memelihara persekitaran, meningkatkan sosio-ekonomi penduduk dan
melancarkan mobiliti penduduk di antara bandar yang berkaitan.
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