MBKS areas now have SCATS, on par with Sydney, KL, S’pore
KUCHING: The traffic flow in several parts of the city is now on par with that of Sydney, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur following the implementation of Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS).
At present, six traffic light intersections under the jurisdiction of Kuching City South Council ( MBKS) have been installed with SCATS, a fully adaptive urban traffic control system that optimises traffic flow.
These intersections are Jalan Pending/Jalan Kwong Lee Bank, Jalan Batu Lintang/ Jalan Mendu, Jalan Song/Jalan Urat Mata, Jalang Song/ Lorong Song 3, Jalan Song/Jalan Setia Raja and Jalan Wan Alwi/Jalan Bayor Bukit.
The project, which costs about RM1.5 million, will see four more traffic light intersections in MBKS area equipped with SCATS. The identified areas include Jalan Sekama, Jalan Padungan and Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho.
Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said cameras had been attached to the lamp posts near the intersections concerned for the purpose of traffic surveillance.
“These are not speed trap cameras. They are basically used for coordinating and adapting to allow smarter and smoother flow of traffic,” he told a press conference after the commissioning of SCATS at the Jalan Song/ Lorong Song 3 traffic light intersection here yesterday.
According to Dr Sim, SCATS works in such an effective manner that traffic congestion in MBKS areas would be alleviated.
Citing the three traffic light
These are not speed trap cameras. They are basically used for coordinating and adapting to allow smarter and smoother flow of traffic.
intersections at Jalan Song as an example, he said the SCATS would coordinate and adapt to the needs by switching to green lights for all three intersections.
“When it comes to coordinating, it will be all three green lights instead of the first one green, second one red and the third green. Adaptive means there will be longer green light period.”
Dr Sim said more than 270 cities across the globe had adopted SCATS while 12,000 traffic light intersections in Australia and 16,000 in China had been installed with the system.
Meanwhile, MBKS mayor Datuk James Chan said the ministry allocated RM2 million for the project but the cost was cut down to RM1.5 million, thanks to the tender process.
He said MBKS area registered quite a number of state and protocol roads, which the council had jurisdiction over implementing SCATS.
Dr Sim was quick to add that it would be up to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation and Public Works Department (JKR) to put up SCATS at the traffic light intersections along state and protocol roads.
A statement issued by MBKS reminded road users to be alert and vigilant to avoid unnecessary delays since the waiting time at traffic light intersections would be reduced.
“Road users are further advised to refrain from illegal side-parking on major transit routes especially during peak hours,” the statement added.
Temenggong Tan Joo Phoi and Pemanca Ko Wai Neng were among those present at the function.
Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Local Government Minister