KUCHING: It is going to be an uphill battle to establish affordable fares for the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), which entails reconciling the public’s demands with the transit system’s economic viability.
Senior lecturer of the Economics and Business Faculty, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Dr Nur Zaimah Ubaidillah said the pricing of fares should take into account multiple factors, such as the cost structure, the financial status of the population served, and the wider monetary advantages.
As for affordability, she said, additional research on the propensity to pay is required to determine how much people are willing to pay.
“The society may also be involved in the fare-settings via public hearings, surveys, and consultations. This ensures transparency and facilitates the collection of input on concerns regarding affordability.
“Factors that should be taken into consideration are the income levels, living expenses, transportation cost, government subsidies and alternative modes of transportation,” she said.
She was commenting on Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement saying that he would assure that the fare or ticket prices for the hydrogen-powered ART will be affordable to the public.
Speaking to the New Sarawak Tribune recently, Nur Zaimah said though it would not be an easy task to ensure the fare to be affordable, the ART may greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
This also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action which entails “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning”.
The emergence of ART, she said, also presents novel avenues for employment, including as possibilities for engineers, technicians, and software developers engaged in the creation, upkeep, and supervision of these systems.
Furthermore, the ART may also facilitate technical innovation, hence promoting local research and development efforts and cultivating a workforce proficient in technology.
She believed the implementation of ART stations has the potential to stimulate transit-oriented development (TOD) within the vicinity, therefore enticing commercial enterprises and augmenting property valuations.
“This phenomenon has the potential to result in a rise in property tax income for local governments.
“The enhancement of transportation accessibility has the potential to foster economic expansion by facilitating convenient commuting for employees and enabling customers to easily visit firms.
“The implementation of aesthetically pleasing and highly functional ART, also has the potential to stimulate tourism by facilitating convenient transportation to sought-after places. This, in turn, can result in amplified tourist expenditures and subsequent economic expansion,” she explained,
Meanwhile, she opined that the influence of property values in proximity to ART might differ greatly based upon a multitude of factors, such as the precise geographical position, prevailing conditions within the local property market, and the urban planning regulations.
Nevertheless, Nur Zaimah said it is frequently observed that residences situated in close proximity to well-planned and effectively operated transit stations, regardless of whether they are associated with public transit, tend to undergo a rise in their market worth.
Other factors contributing to this include improved accessibility, reduced commuting time, infrastructure investments and attractive urban living, she added.
