New traffic light system will give special priority to ART along Samarahan Expressway

Lee (eight left) together with the Sarawak Metro team posing with the ART vehicle at the Kota Samarahan Expressway on Nov 25, 2023.

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Nov 25: A Transit Signal Priority (TSP) system, featuring battery backups and power generators, deployed along the traffic light junctions-roundabouts along the Samarahan Expressway will give special treatment to the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle for enhanced punctuality and reliability.

Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin explained that the TSP system enables an effective approach to improve the operational efficiency of the ART on its routes by granting priority to the ART lane over others.

“The traffic light will turn green when a transit vehicle is approaching a signalised intersection. It will transmit traffic priority requests to intersections about 125 metres before reaching. Subsequently, the lights for other lanes will turn red. After the ART vehicle passes, a signal detector will allow other vehicles to cross.

“Safety is the top priority, especially when the routes involved junctions and intersections. This also ensures the ART’s seamless travel as well as punctuality and reliability.

“Combined with dedicated lanes, this means the ART will travel all the way without stopping to the next station. If it take 10 minutes, it means 10 minutes,” he told reporters after inspecting the ART prototype vehicle’s Stage 2 proof-of-concept (POC) exercise at La Promenade Mall here today.

Lee (left) and an engineer in the cab of the ART prototype vehicle during its exercise on the Kota Samarahan Expressway on Nov 25, 2023.

On concerns about power breakdowns affecting traffic light systems, Lee reassured that the system is backed by batteries and a power generator set for double safety, preventing interruptions.

In cases where emergency vehicles need to pass, he pointed out that the ART retains the right of way due to the TSP, which is unlikely to detect oncoming emergency vehicles.

“However, the affect will only be minimal given the short distance of only about 125 metre which only takes few seconds,” he added.

With the ART operating on dedicated lanes without sharing the road with other vehicles, Lee hopes this will encourage people to opt for public transport instead of having to endure traffic congestion for hours, apart from the petrol costs and parking fees.

“This will be more convenient for people to travel. ART under the KUTS network aims to reduce traffic on the road as well as carbon emission as it is powered by green hydrogen.

“We want to make ART very comfortable with good air conditioning and a smooth ride. With this modern and green mobility, we hope to encourage people to take public transport and in turn reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission on the road,” he said.

The ART prototype vehicle stations near La Promenade Mall preparing for its run along the Kota Samarahan Expressway on Nov 25, 2023.

The ART prototype is currently running along a designated track marked with white lines spanning about 3km from the Sarawak Heart Centre junction-roundabout to Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Samarahan junction-roundabout along with other vehicles.

This track is set to become the permanent lane for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) alignment under the Blue Line, which starts from Rembus in Kota Samarahan to Hikmah Exchnge in Kuching city centre, once the ART system network is completed.

So far, the ART prototype has covered a total distance of 5,407km, including during Stage 1 of the POC exercise in China and engineering run along The Isthmus from Sept 6 to Oct 31, 2023.

A total of 1,999 visitors rode on the prototype, signifying substantial interest and engagement in the project.

The ongoing POC exercise, from Nov 20 to Dec 15, 2023, aims to collect essential data for evaluating ART’s viability, contributing significantly to the final design of the system and vehicle. — DayakDaily