LETTER | Seven ways to reduce traffic jams in Cameron Highlands

LETTER | I would like to propose seven short and long-term suggestions to reduce traffic congestion in Cameron Highlands and urge the Pahang government to cancel the ban on commercial vehicles on the road during weekends and holidays to prevent impacting the supply chain of vegetables.

The Pahang government has applied to the federal government to ban commercial vehicles from using certain sections of Federal Route 59 in Cameron Highlands during weekends and holidays from 10am to 3pm.

During a special session in Parliament on May 25, Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the commercial vehicle ban is currently being gazetted and expected to be implemented in June. The minister also stated that his ministry will consider it accordingly only when the Pahang government suggests lifting the ban.

Cameron Highlands has always been known for its cold and chilling weather all year long, special agricultural products such as corn, tea, and strawberries, as well as rich flora and fauna. The data shows more than 790,000 tourists visited Cameron Highlands in 2020 alone, proving that it remains to be a well-received tourist destination.

However, Cameron Highlands has only one main road, namely Federal Route 59. Due to long-term planning issues, imbalanced development, and increasing tourist numbers over the years, traffic congestion during weekends and holidays has become increasingly severe.

Despite that, the Pahang government’s abrupt decision to ban commercial vehicles, including vegetable trucks from using the road, without conducting detailed research or consulting experts, might not help lessen the traffic congestion in Cameron Highlands.

Worse still, the ban might affect the vegetable supply and logistic chain, leading to supply shortages or price increases in vegetables.

Therefore, I would like to propose seven short and long-term measures that could potentially smoothen the traffic flow in Cameron Highlands and replace the weekend and holiday commercial vehicle ban to avoid disrupting the vegetable supply chain.

Three short-term solutions:

1. Make use of private parking lots around Medan Agro Kea Farm.

Medan Agro Kea Farm is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Cameron Highlands, yet has contributed to traffic congestion and has become a traffic bottleneck. As a result, the adjacent towns, namely Brinchang and Tanah Rata, also faced severe traffic jams. For instance, even though the distance between Kea Farm and Brinchang is merely 5km, tourists often have to spend two to three hours or more just to reach their destinations.

It is estimated that there are 80 stalls in Medan Agro Kea Farm, and vendors currently park their vehicles at the parking area of Medan Agro. Based on the answer provided in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly, there are 188 parking lots in Medan Agro. Therefore, after 80 vendors parked their vehicles in the parking area, only 108 parking lots are available for tourists’ use.

To reduce the traffic bottleneck, local authorities such as the Cameron Highlands district council can instruct all the vendors to park their vehicles or vans at other private parking areas or hotel parking lots in the vicinity after unloading their goods. This way, the 188 parking lots can be made available for more tourists, and thus they don’t have to wait endlessly on the main road for their turn to park their vehicles.

2. Utilise real-time data to direct vehicles to different parking areas.

The local authorities such as the police should have real-time information about available parking spaces in Kea Farm to provide clear parking instructions to tourists.

If the 188 parking lots in Medan Agro Kea Farm are fully occupied, the traffic police shall direct visitors to vacant private parking areas in the vicinity. This will lessen the traffic bottleneck problem that caused severe traffic jams in adjacent towns.

3. Restrict only trucks that carry non-essential goods during a specific time.

If the Pahang government insists on implementing the commercial vehicle ban, it should only apply to trucks transporting non-essential items. Trucks carrying essential goods such as vegetables should be allowed to operate to ensure the vegetable supply chain is not affected.

Four long-term solutions:

1. Building additional parking lots

One of the main reasons for the severe traffic problem in Cameron Highlands is insufficient parking spaces. Therefore, the local authorities should have long-term planning and identify suitable locations for constructing multi-storey parking lots.

Furthermore, the local and state governments should study examples in some developed countries by introducing smart and automated parking systems to make effective use of technology and increase parking capacity.

2. Introducing park-and-ride system

The park-and-ride system consists of a parking area with public transport connections, whereby visitors can park their vehicles at designated parking lots and use public transport such as buses for further travel. This will help alleviate traffic congestion while providing visitors with a more comfortable and convenient travel experience.

3. Introducing locally distinctive public transport services

The government should study the distinctive public transport systems in foreign countries, such as Tuk-Tuk in Thailand, to make public transport “fun, cool, and exciting” for tourists.

To achieve that, the government has to collaborate with stakeholders in the tourism and public transport sectors to introduce public transport services that reflect the special local character of Cameron Highlands and complement the park-and-ride system. This will encourage more tourists to use public transport by providing them with a unique and memorable experience while reducing the number of private vehicles on the road.

4. Accelerating the implementation of Cameron Highlands new road plan

The federal government should study and implement the Cameron Highlands new road plan as soon as possible. In particular, the fourth phase of the plan - the construction of a new road from Tanah Rata to Tringkap - can provide an alternative route to the residents and visitors, allowing them to bypass congested areas such as Kea Farm and Brinchang.

In conclusion, traffic congestion in Cameron Highlands is a multifaceted issue that requires cooperation from multiple parties, including residents, businesses, local authorities, the Pahang government, and the federal government, to solve it together.

With the synergy from all parties, residents can enjoy the economic benefits of a thriving tourism industry, while tourists can also receive a rewarding and memorable experience in Cameron Highlands.

I urge the Pahang government to lift the short-sighted commercial vehicle ban and call for detailed discussions on various solutions to alleviate traffic congestion, including conducting comprehensive studies with the help of experts and seeking opinions from multiple stakeholders.

Ho Chi Yang HO CHI YANG is state assemblyperson for Tanah Rata.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.