KUCHING: The Sarawak Urban Traffic Management Committee (SUTMaC) has recommended having dedicated bus lanes incorporated into the urban planning policies.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said dedicated bus lanes should be applied on key routes to speed up public transport, especially in the major towns in Sarawak.
Systematic urban traffic management, he said, was necessary to create a safe, orderly, and efficient movement of people and goods while at the same time protecting the environment.
“SUTMaC will not only look at short-term actions but also long-term strategies in alleviating urban traffic problems throughout the state.
“However, we need all agencies to work together in addressing the various issues as well as providing recommendations to the government on related programmes, projects, or initiatives that can help to tackle traffic congestion in urban areas,” he said in a statement after chairing the committee meeting yesterday (April 14).
Apart from that, he said, the meeting also focused on issues of coordination of projects and programmes undertaken by various agencies pertaining to urban traffic, which includes the operations of command centres in managing urban traffic.
During the meeting, Sarawak Attorney General Chambers also gave a briefing on laws and regulations related to urban traffic management, while Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd gave an update on the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and the ART project overview.
SUTMaC was approved by the Sarawak Cabinet in August 2022 to act as a platform for key stakeholders to discuss urban traffic issues and coordinate initiatives, programmes, and projects to resolve problems relating to urban traffic.
Lee said currently, there are various state and federal agencies in charge of or involved in road and transport matters in Sarawak, including traffic congestion as well as other roads and infrastructures.
Thus, he said, SUTMaC will be a platform for all the relevant stakeholders to sit together and coordinate pertinent issues that affect urban traffic and transport movement.
The meeting was attended by committee members that comprise heads of departments and government officers from the key and relevant ministries and agencies that are responsible for urban traffic management, including the residents of all the divisions in Sarawak.
