Bus Rapid Transit at Iskandar Malaysia: Addressing Last Mile Connectivity Issues

Iskandar Malaysia, the first economic region of Malaysia located in Johor is piloting the use of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). It covers an estimated 90% of housing areas at Iskandar, improving citizen's last mile connectivity. First launched in 2017, the project has developed into the testing phase, in particular, of electric and biodiesel-powered buses. The pilot bus was tested on the highways of the city in April 2021 by Iskandar Regional Development Authority. 

Upon launching, the buses will be driven along dedicated lanes for the BRTs, with 750 buses operating at the frequency of 10-15 minutes. The BRT stations are ensured to be set up in walking distance to residential homes, and the buses are equipped with ramps to allow wheelchair or bike access into the buses.

This effort is also in line with Johor's aim of modernising the public transport system in its state. To ensure the BRTs are ready to launch, IRDA will monitor and collect feedback on the bus performance, including bus efficiency data, effectiveness and safety.

The buses run on a maximum speed of 70 km/hour, and has sensors that reads virtual tracks, allowing the buses to run autonomously without a driver.