MRT Corp has agreed to abide by the majority decision from Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) residents on the proposed pedestrian linkway connecting the 1Utama MRT Station and TTDI across the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP).
Last month, TTDI residents were riled up upon receiving news of the pedestrian linkway, which would connect to Jalan Athinahapan as they were not consulted prior to the proposal. A protest was held at Tadika Diyana on June 20, where residents voiced their concerns and signed a petition to put a stop to the project.
In a meeting between MRT Corp and the TTDI Residents Association (TTDIRA) on July 1, MRT Corp chief executive officer Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid said he would accede to the majority after TTDIRA said most of the residents did not want the pedestrian linkway.
“TTDIRA chairman Mohd Hatim Abdullah explained that they had started a petition and that more than 800 signatures had been secured. They also explained that the exercise was ongoing and that they were confident of getting the majority of TTDI residents to sign the petition.
“MRT Corp has agreed to a cut-off date of Aug 31 to secure the requisite signatures and we will abide by the majority decision.
“If there is a tie, both parties agree to let the authorities decide on whether or not the project proceeds,” he said.
Hatim was concerned that the pedestrian linkway would encourage MRT commuters to use the neighbourhood as an alternative parking space. He argued that the 500 bays in the multi-storey park-and-ride facility next to the 1Utama MRT station was not sufficient for the 46,900 estimated commuters per day.
“There is strong reason to believe that indiscriminate and illegal parking will happen along Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi and Jalan Athinahapan. Traffic is sure to increase in this already congested neighbourhood and contribute to more air pollution.
“Given the large number of commuters, illegal hawkers may also start mushrooming, followed by rubbish being strewn in the area and rat infestation.
“We are also worried that the crime rate will increase. So far, the residents have successfully reduced the crime rate by taking steps such as employing private security guards and forging a close relationship with the police,” he said.
Instead, Hatim suggested MRT Corp provide regular feeder bus services between TTDI and the 1Utama station.
In a statement from MRT Corp, it said the proposed pedestrian linkway was in line with the basic principle that public transportation facilities should be easily accessible from all directions. It explained that TTDI was only 80m away from the 1Utama MRT station but would not benefit without the linkway, because of the LDP in between the neighbourhood and station.
The pedestrian linkway was described as the greenest option to access the MRT station. It is built to solve the issue of insufficient parking space by allowing those close to the MRT to walk instead.
The park-and-ride facility with 500 bays is being constructed next to the station and commuters who drive can choose to park here instead of in TTDI and walk another 800m.
The statement also said indiscriminate parking, illegal hawking and crime could be tackled with enforcement from the local authorities.
It also stated that the linkway was planned to be connected to the TTDI Community Centre via a sheltered walkway for the ease of commuters.
Those who wish to sign the petition can contact TTDIRA or visit www.ttdira.com.