Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid (IMBRT) to Run its Pilot Test Soon

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) has announced on 17^th March that the Iskandar Malaysia Bus Rapid Transit (IMBRT) project has entered the second phase; a three-month pilot testing programme which will be carried out along Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar between Horizon Hill and Anjung in Medini, starting on 8^th April 2021.

Safety

Malaysia Institute of Transport (MITRANS) will evaluate the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) performance particularly on its turning, manoeuvrability, and lane-changing capabilities on the road. Meanwhile, the 6-metre buses will be tested to determine the viability of feeder route as well as the electric bus’s battery life period (per trip).

Towards World Class City

“This Pilot Testing programme is a significant achievement for the IMBRT as the project moves into high gear,” said Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of IRDA.

“An effective and interconnected public transportation infrastructure is catalyst for attracting international and domestic investments into the city, which will help the region expand even faster. We are optimistic that the IMBRT system will improve people’s mobility by providing Iskandar Malaysia with first- and last-mile connectivity and access,” he said.

Increasing Public Transportation Use

The IMBRT, which is billed as the backbone of public transportation in Iskandar Malaysia, has a primary target of increasing public transportation coverage in the area from 39% to 90% by 2025 and increasing public transportation modal share from 15% to 40%.

It also aims to improve accessibility and connectivity, which will be crucial in contributing to the economic development of key sectors and the urbanisation of Iskandar Malaysia, as well as reducing the region’s transportation sector’s carbon footprint through the use of green transportation.

Connecting a Large Population

“A high-quality transportation system, such as the IMBRT, will provide communities with dependable services with a broader network coverage and scope, interconnecting with feeder services, direct routes, and trunk routes that connect to the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS). In the Iskandar Malaysia Transportation Blueprint 2010 – 2030, we described BRT as the preferred transit mode for the area because it is more strategic, sustainable, and cost-effective to build than rail,” Rudyanto Azhar, Head of BRTIM Sdn Bhd said.

The Outlook

Nine bus manufacturers will participate in the IMBRT Pilot Research programme, showcasing the new green bus technologies, including electric and biodiesel.

Buses ranging in length from 6 metres to 32 metres will be on display from the participating suppliers.

The IMBRT will have 55 feeder and 44 direct networks, taking the total network coverage to 2,051 kilometres, or roughly 90% of Iskandar Malaysia’s populated area. The IMBRT’s main trunk line spans 54.92 kilometres via Skudai, Tebrau, and Iskandar Puteri. It will have 33 stations, with one hub on the Skudai Line at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The main trunk line will also have two end stations, one on the Tebrau Line in Desa Jaya and the other on the Iskandar Puteri Line in Anjung.

For more information on the IMBRT visit IMBRT’s official social media channels at https://www.facebook.com/IMBRTOfficial, https://twitter.com/IMBRTOfficial and https://www.instagram.com/imbrtofficial