Engaging Public Transport Users

Conference on Urban Mass Transit

16-17 March 2009

Presentation Structure

Introductions – who we areResolving Public Transport Issues in

MalaysiaRegulation has to changeOrganization has to changeA New Model for Public TransportMaking it happenConclusion

So…who are you?

The Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit (TRANSIT), Klang Valley

A diverse group of public transport usersA united voice for the passengerOur 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

ROUTETransit routes are very complicated

PLATFORMTransit points are not accessible

To make people use public transport…

TRIP(Mass) transit journey is too tiring

ROUTETransit routes are very complicated

PLATFORMTransit 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…

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS in:AccessibilityAvailabilityReliabilitySafetyComfort

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???

MAKE TRIP FAST AND COMFORTABLE MAKE GETTING TO PLACES SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD

MAKE TRANSFERS CONVENIENT AND HASSLE FREE

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:

TRIPCollective movement of people

ROUTEServicing common corridor with greater

efficiency

PLATFORMFacilitated by pooled resources (stations,

street signals, dedicated lanes etc)

The single most important competitor to public transport is private transportTaxpayers’ money has not been used to fund common infrastructure to

support public transport the way it is used tobuild and maintain roads for cars.

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 vehiclesOperators 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

TRIPCollective movement of people

ROUTEServicing common corridor with greater

efficiency

PLATFORMFacilitated by pooled resources (stations,

street signals, dedicated lanes etc)

This highly systemic and strategic task should be entrusted toa centralized authority with a high-level of

legislative and enforcement powers

This operational task is typically taken by private orquasi-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 KPIOperators are paid a contract fee for

services provided with additional incentives for meeting/exceeding KPI

Feedback from passengers becomes vital

A new organizational model

KPIs in: Accessibility Availability Reliability Safety Comfort

INPUTSTaxpayers Money

Infrastructure TechnologyResources Labor

CONSUMED OUTPUTS

Passenger/milePassenger/energy unit

Infra. KPIs Service KPIs

PRODUCED OUTPUTS

Journey covered/labor Operational cost/mile

Vehicle seats/mile

COST EFFECTIVENESS COST EFFICIENCY

SERVICEEFFICIENCY

OPER

ATO

RS’

SCO

PE

AUTHORITIES’ SCOPE

Fair allocation of risks and responsibilities between operators and authorities

UNIFORM F

EE COLLECTIO

N

(inte

grat

ed tic

ketin

g sy

stem)

A new financing model

TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES

COMMUTERS

OPERATORSContracted to:

Private localGLC-funded local

Private foreign

PA

YO

UTS

BA

SE

D O

N

DIS

TAN

CE

TRA

VE

LLED

AN

D D

RIV

ING

MA

NH

OU

RS

PE

NA

LTY IF K

PIs N

OT M

ET

EXTRA FEE FOR VALUE-ADDED SERVICE

LOCAL / STATE GOVTQuit rent rates depend on proximity to transit connectionsCongestion charges, summons

FEDERAL GOVTTaxes, royalties, duties, levies

FUNDING

PENALTY IF KPIs NOT MET

Non-discriminating distribution of tax revenue and fee income to cover entire population

The view from TRANSIT

Consult with the public first; have real plansGo 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 & risksMaximize benefits, minimize costs!Keep it simple and make it work!

Thank you for your time

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad Moaz.ahmad@gmail.com 012-248-3330

On behalf of TRANSIT http://transitmy.org Klangvalley.transit@gmail.com klangvalley_transit-

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