SHAH ALAM, July 18 - A RM1 million pilot project to improve pedestrian safety around SMK Taman Sea in SS2 will begin on July 20, introducing upgraded walkways, traffic-calming measures and safer road crossings for students and residents.
The Safer School Streets initiative, implemented by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) with funding from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), will cover Jalan SS2/3 and Jalan 21/37, linking the secondary school to the nearby Taman Bahagia LRT station.
According to The Star, the project is scheduled for completion by October 31 and will feature continuous pedestrian walkways, raised pedestrian crossings, designated 30km/h school speed zones and other measures aimed at creating a safer environment for those travelling on foot.
Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lim Yi Wei said the project addresses long-standing safety concerns, particularly for students walking between the school and the LRT station.
She said the area currently lacks a safe pedestrian route as well as a proper drop-off point, resulting in traffic congestion when parents and school buses stop along the roadside during dismissal.
“There should be enough space to keep at least one lane open throughout the construction period. The contractor will provide a detailed work schedule for each phase," she said, as reported by local English daily.
Lim added that construction would be carried out in stages to minimise disruption.
According to her, all five components of the project would incorporate universal design features to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and parents with strollers, while additional speed bumps will also be installed.
The project is being undertaken with technical support from PLANMalaysia, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and Commute Initiatives.
A mobility study by Commute Initiatives found about 800 pedestrians used the route to the LRT station, while another 500 were recorded near the school within a 90-minute observation period.
Lim said the study also found vehicles travelling at speeds of up to 85km/h, while a survey involving 344 respondents showed that 76.2 per cent felt unsafe using the route.
She said findings from the mobility assessment were presented during engagement sessions with students and the local community to help shape the project's final design.
Meanwhile, SS2 Selatan Residents Association chairman Ching Leng Chu welcomed the initiative but called for gradual ramps instead of steep kerbs to improve accessibility for elderly pedestrians.
Ching said around 70 per cent of SS2 Selatan residents are aged 60 and above, adding that covered walkways and traffic bollards should also be considered to discourage illegal U-turns.
“The existing pavement is difficult for senior citizens to use, with some tripping because they cannot lift their feet high enough onto the kerb," he said.
