For The Star's article today, there are several points to note...
  1. The 3 month display did show some information, but didn't answer (and Prasarana has yet to answer) information on ridership, which was a key issue raised in your 1st article. 
  2. The question on layby design was raised for its ability to cope with feeder bus and passenger drop offs. However, information on both feeder bus and passenger drop offs has not been forthcoming by Prasarana, and was not part of the public display. We still do not know how many routes is being planned, and how many buses will ply each station, and thus how much holding space is needed at each station. 
  3. I'm glad to note that Prasarana acknowledges that there won't be enough park and ride facilities. (“There can never be enough park-and-ride facilities, which is why we need an efficient and effective feeder bus system,” said the representative.) Thus, its is very important for them to tell us their plans for ridership, feeder buses, and how people are getting to stations. Else, we may agree to a project that will bring about repercussions which could be avoidable.
  4. On the close proximity of several stations, the Prasarana representative said that a distance of 500-600m to 1.4-1.5km between two stations is an acceptable stretch. Just by saying it doesn't make it truth. They have refused to give supporting data to this statement since 1 year ago. 
The spokesman stressed that in addition to being a solution to traffic congestion, the survival of a high-density area depends on public transport.
I absolutely agree with this. We really need public transport. But building LRT lines must be done right. Its after all a RM7b++ investment and we must ensure that we don't look back on it with regret. 

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Adequate info given on LRT extension

By JADE CHAN
jade@thestar.com.my


ALL the relevant information on the proposed Kelana Jaya LRT line extension into Subang Jaya was available during the three-month public display last year, said a Prasarana (Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd) spokesman.
“In addition to a map of the train route and station locations, the railway schemes clearly showed each station’s design, lay-by and other details,” he said.
“We had Prasarana employees on hand at the display venues to explain the details.
“All the stations have lay-bys and drop-off zones, which have been designed to not ‘eat into’ the existing roads.”
The representative was speaking in response to a StarMetro article published on July 3 headlined Subang folk want more info on LRT extension.
He said numerous meetings and public dialogues had been held with residents associations, NGOs, disabled groups, as well as state and local government authorities on the proposed LRT extension.
“While some information could not be given out earlier due to land and property speculation, all our procedures and technical requirements have been done according to the law,” said the representative.
On the of lack of park-and-ride facilities, he said it was due to land acquisition problems.
“Stations 5 to 9 (SS15 Subang Jaya to USJ14) are located at heavily built-up zones with not much space to build park-and-ride facilities.
“But there will be 1,400 parking bays at Station 4 (Subang Jaya KTM), 1,500 bays at Station 7 (USJ7), and 700 bays at Station 10 (USJ21), with Station 4 being integrated with Subang Jaya KTM Komuter Station.
“There can never be enough park-and-ride facilities, which is why we need an efficient and effective feeder bus system,” said the representative.
“We are working with the local authorities, residents associations, business communities and RapidKL to work out the feeder bus routes based on high density areas, demand pattern and efficient turning points.
“We are looking at, say, a feeder bus service every 15 minutes so people don’t have to drive to the stations. To address illegal parking, there is a need for stricter enforcement and proper civic awareness”
On the close proximity of several stations, the Prasarana representative said that a distance of 500-600m to 1.4-1.5km between two stations is an acceptable stretch.
“If there is a large distance between the stations, then there will be a lot of ground-level congestion at an individual station when people congregate at one station to board the train.
“The LRT line is coming in after the townships are already built up. So a detailed study based on the optimisation factor was carried out to ensure minimum social impact and technical requirements were adhered to, while also considering the population density and land availability.
On ridership figures, the spokesman said they were based on the projected figures by the Census Board.
“It is estimated that the population would number close to 160,000 people by 2015 at the areas around Stations 5 to 10 (SS15 Subang Jaya to USJ21), and close to 200,000 people by 2020,” he said.
The spokesman stressed that in addition to being a solution to traffic congestion, the survival of a high-density area depends on public transport.
Asked about the land acquisition issue at Saujana Residency, he said the matter would be sorted out with the Department of Railways, Prasarana and the local authorities.
On the next step, the spokesman said Prasarana is presently working with the local authorities and state government to review the final portion of the LRT alignment and sort out land constraints issues.
The proposed Kelana Jaya LRT extension line will commence from Lembah Subang – Kelana Business Centre, through Subang, USJ, Alam Megah and ending at the hub in Putra Heights.
The proposed line will consists of 13 new stations and 17km of guideway.
The Ampang LRT extension line will commence from the present Sri Petaling station, passing through Puchong, Kinrara and ending at the hub in Putra Heights.
The proposed line will consist of 13 new stations and 17.7km of guideway. All stations will have facilities such as lifts, escalators, public telephones, surau and toilets.
The stations will also be equipped with facilities for the physically disabled such as ramps, lifts, tac-tiles, ticket counters and toilets.
Both the Kelana Jaya and Ampang lines are expected to be commissioned by end of 2012.
While the deadline for the public feedback has ended, information on the proposed LRT extension is available at www.lrtextension.com.