Dr Siti Ayu Jalil said while converting part of the Shah Alam LRT3 park-and-ride facilities into residential development aligns with TOD principles, its success depends entirely on the strength of supporting transport systems.
PETALING JAYA: Shah Alam’s transit-oriented development (TOD) will only succeed if commuters are willing to leave their cars behind and that hinges on whether first and last-mile connectivity can realistically replace reliance on park-and-ride facilities, a transport planning expert has warned.
Malaysia Institute of Transport head of Legal and Quality Dr Siti Ayu Jalil said while converting part of the Shah Alam LRT3 park-and-ride facilities into residential development aligns with TOD principles, its success depends entirely on the strength of supporting transport systems.
“High-density housing near LRT stations can increase public transport ridership, encourage walking and cycling, and make better use of valuable urban land.
“However, reducing parking without providing practical alternatives risks discouraging some commuters from using the rail service,” she said.
She stressed that many commuters from outer areas still depend heavily on park-and-ride facilities, making feeder buses, safe walking routes, cycling infrastructure and shared mobility options essential before any reduction in parking capacity.
“A balanced approach that combines residential development with sufficient transport accessibility offers the most sustainable solution,” she added.
The government has said improved feeder buses, pedestrian walkways and cycling facilities will offset reduced park-and-ride capacity under the Shah Alam TOD masterplan.
However, Siti Ayu said these measures will only work if they are reliable, convenient and fully integrated with the LRT network.
She said this requires frequent feeder buses aligned with train schedules, continuous shaded walkways, protected cycling lanes, secure bicycle parking, integrated ticketing systems, competitive fares, and higher-density mixed-use development around stations.
She added that any reduction in parking should be phased in gradually, and only after alternatives are proven capable of meeting commuter demand.
“It is important that sustainable travel alternatives are established before restricting access for existing public transport users.”
Drawing on her own experience commuting to Shah Alam via KTM Komuter in the late 1990s, Siti Ayu said weak first and last-mile connectivity has long undermined rail systems in Malaysia.
She said commuters struggle with the first and last miles due to poor feeder bus service, incomplete walkways and lack of cycling infrastructure.
Without these supporting systems, she warned, commuters are likely to continue relying on private vehicles, worsening congestion, increasing parking demand and weakening public transport ridership.
She also raised safety concerns, including incomplete sidewalks, unsafe crossings and limited protection from Malaysia’s heat and heavy rain, which discourage walking and cycling to stations.
These gaps, she said, weaken TOD outcomes because seamless station access is critical to supporting higher-density, mixed-use development within walking distance of stations.
