Transport activist says bus rapid transit system makes more sense than LRT for Johor
A study by IRDA shows that bus rapid transit is more cost-effective, quicker to build, and better suited for Johor Bahru and Iskandar Puteri than LRT
From 2010 to 2012, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) conducted a study comparing various modes of transport available at that time, including light rail transit (LRT), monorail, automated people mover, and bus rapid transit (BRT).
The study involved state and federal agencies, including the works ministry and public works department, and it was presented to the federal government at the city and corridor lab.
As a result, BRT was proposed as the most cost-effective and suitable option for the demand and commuting patterns in Iskandar Malaysia.
BRT was, and still is, considered by federal agencies and public transport experts as the fastest system to construct and deliver, especially in Johor Bahru and the state administrative capital, Nusajaya (now known as Iskandar Puteri).
In 2021, IRDA appointed a team of consultants, and two years ago, the federal and state governments approved building three lines:
# Tasek to Velodrome (known as Iskandar Puteri Line);
# Komtar JB to UTM (Skudai Line); and
# Komtar to Taman Desa Jaya (Tebrau Line)
All three lines would converge at Wadi Hana station and link to RTS Bukit Chagar via an overhead pedestrian bridge. The lines include a mixture of at-grade and elevated sections, with approximately 80% dedicated lanes for BRT.
Bus vs rail transit
BRT is highly effective in suburban arterial corridors with expected ridership based on several factors like demographics, trip purpose and travel needs that would not justify a mega project such as LRT, especially if funding is an issue.
LRT is ineffective in sprawling low-density suburban areas, where it is arduous to establish suitable rail corridors, while BRT is abundant at integrating existing bus networks.
LRT gives high-passenger loading on a particular route during peak hours, while BRT is a lot more efficient with wider segments of the population, with essentially a network of buses joining and leaving the elevated or dedicated route at any designated exit.
According to IRDA, it is projected that the BRT networks in Johor Bahru and Iskandar Puteri will record 302,824 passengers daily by 2030.
It is understood that the BRT services in Iskandar Malaysia could see 90% penetration of 2.25 million population in 2030 and beyond.
Currently, 187 cities worldwide have adopted the BRT system.
Cost and time
The cost to build LRT is significantly higher than building the BRT, which would cost approximately one-third of LRT, and if it includes land acquisition costs, the savings could be up to 50%.
Three years ago, a study by IRDA found that BRT would be more economical than the construction and operation expenditures of the LRT lines in the Klang Valley.
Johor Bahru’s BRT system would be a cost-effective, high-impact project compared with rail projects in Greater Kuala Lumpur, such as the RM30 billion Sungai Buloh–Kajang MRT (RM577 million per kilometre) or the RM21 billion LRT3 (RM489 million per km).
To put in perspective, the cost to build BRT networks that include infrastructure, buses and supporting systems is estimated at RM50 million per km.
In other words, BRT would cost one-tenth of the Klang Valley rail lines and one-quarter of the Penang LRT project.
At the end of 2023, the federal government estimated that the Iskandar region BRT project would cost RM2.5 billion (RM1.2 billion infrastructure and RM1.3 billion procurement of high-capacity electric buses and systems), including RM180 million for land acquisition covering 65 acres in UTM Skudai, Desa Jaya, Medini, and along Skudai Highway.
Another advantage is that BRT could save three to four years of construction time in comparison to building LRT.
Thus, it is estimated that the completion of the e-ART project may take between 24 to 36 months.
It is common knowledge within the industry that a comprehensive feasibility study for a possible LRT service in Iskandar Malaysia may take a minimum of 14 months to complete.
All in all, LRT is not a cost-effective solution and not a practical option in comparison to BRT, especially in the context of Johor Bahru as well as Iskandar Puteri populations.
Adapted from the article written by Shahrim Tamrin (top picture), a transport and road safety activist and a former board member of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
First published via Letter To Editor by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on Saturday, 15 November 2025.
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| Adapted by Fauzi Kadir Chief Editor
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