Commuters link worsening congestion to Rapid KL route cuts, though experts urge caution on conclusions.

PETALING JAYA: Traffic congestion in parts of the Klang Valley has surged in recent days, sparking complaints from commuters online who link the snarls to Prasarana’s latest round of bus route cuts — though no official data yet confirms a direct link.

On Feb 6, Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana, announced that 10 more Rapid KL routes will be restructured from Feb 14, as part of the second phase of its network rationalisation exercise.

This follows the restructuring of 19 routes last month.

Among the affected services are long-distance trunk routes such as 506 (Putrajaya Sentral–Bandar Utama) and 708 (Klang–Sunway Pyramid).

Rapid Bus said the changes aim to improve operational efficiency, while passengers can still use alternative services such as the MRT, LRT, feeder buses, and Rapid KL On-Demand.

Its acting chief executive officer Ku Jamil Zakaria described the move as a data-driven approach targeting low-demand routes to build a “smarter, more resilient” public transport system.

However, the reaction online has been swift and critical.

On social media platform X, public transit critic @ErnestOnPT highlighted that this latest round follows the earlier removal of 19 routes, bringing the total number of cuts to 29 within a short period.

Others criticised the removal of fixed routes that connect major townships, saying the alternatives are neither equivalent nor seamless.

Commuters questioned why vital, long-distance services links like 506 and 708 were being targeted, arguing that Greater KL needs more reliable fixed bus routes, not fewer.

@himaboy_im described the 506 service as “critical,” noting it was one of the few direct links between Petaling Jaya, Puchong, and Putrajaya.

“There are now no connections from Puchong to PJ. It was not perfect, with a lot of quirks, but the alternatives are not even close.

“The riders will now take a car at the busy Lebuhraya Damansara–Puchong (LDP) intersection, or take a longer route using the LRT,” the user said.

On the rail network, some commuters have reported heavier passenger loads.

Aziah (not her real name), who commutes from Kelana Jaya to Kuala Lumpur for work, said trains have been noticeably more crowded over the past week.

“Maybe,” she said when asked if the situation could be linked to the bus cuts.

“But even the trains can’t accommodate so many people now. I had to wait for two or three trains before I could get on one because they were all too packed.”

On the ground, the problem is clear.

Johan Kammaruddin, 28, a graphic designer who lives in Subang Jaya and works in Petaling Jaya, said his commute recently took two hours – roughly six times longer than usual.

However, Johan said that part of the congestion may also be due to people finishing their Chinese New Year preparations ahead of the festive season.

Another driver, Qirana Nabilla Mohd Rashidi, 27, said her usual commute from her workplace in PJ to her home in Setapak takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

“Yesterday, however, it took me a shocking 2.5 hours — almost double the usual time. Given that most people leave work around 6 pm, some traffic is expected, but this was beyond anything normal.

“Even taking my usual shortcuts didn’t help, as traffic was just terrible everywhere,” she said.

While the congestion cannot be conclusively attributed to the bus rationalisation, public discussions increasingly frame it as a possible contributing factor.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said it is understandable that commuters are drawing a link, as the timing coincides with worsening road conditions.

However, he cautioned against drawing firm conclusions without supporting data.

“Theoretically, restructuring trunk bus routes – especially long, direct services – can influence commuter behaviour.

“But traffic congestion is shaped by many factors, including school schedules, weather conditions, festive seasons, road works and the overall increase in the number of vehicles on the road.

“The restructuring will certainly affect commuter behaviour, but whether it results in greater private vehicle use depends on the reliability of alternative services and overall door-to-door travel time.”

theSun has reached out to Prasarana for further comments on the restructuring phase, including its expected duration.

At press time, no response had been received.

 The Sun Malaysia