In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in Ipoh, plans are being considered to address the issue in the city centre, according to Perak exco member Sandrea Ng Shy Ching.
Ng, who heads the housing and local government committee, highlighted that the influx of tourists and visitors has led to an increase in vehicles in the city centre, particularly on weekends and holidays.
She expressed concern that popular tourist spots were often gridlocked with vehicles, prompting the need to reassess the current traffic system in place.
“We have enlisted the expertise of consultants to conduct research and devise a solution to tackle the problem at hand,” she stated.
Ng emphasized the importance of addressing the traffic issue to prevent Ipoh, especially its city centre, from gaining a reputation as a congested area that may deter potential visitors.
During the launch of several initiatives including the Ipoh Landscape Master Plan 2023-2035, the Infrastructure and Traffic Management Planning Master Plan 2023-2033, the IpohGo application, the Ipoh City Council’s corporate video, and the Ipoh Tourism video, Ng pointed out that the traffic light system is often blamed for contributing to congestion.
She cited Tambun as a successful example where traffic lights were removed and replaced with U-turns, resulting in smoother traffic flow despite requiring motorists to travel a bit further to make turns.
“By observing the effectiveness of this approach in Tambun, we are exploring the possibility of implementing a similar system in the city centre to address the traffic issue,” Ng added.
As part of efforts to promote a low carbon city and enhance walkability, Ng mentioned that authorities are also working towards creating more pedestrian walkways.
“Through thoughtful design, we aim to encourage more individuals to walk and utilize public transportation as an alternative to driving, hence reducing traffic congestion,” she elaborated.
In regards to the Ipoh Landscape Plan 2023-2035, Ng highlighted that the city council’s initiative marks the first of its kind in the state, underscoring the importance of integrating landscape planning into long-term development strategies.
