Budget 2027: e-ART to be main urban public transport solution in Johor Bahru ahead of RTS Link

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — The federal government has announced that the Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (e-ART) system will be the primary solution for alleviating traffic congestion in Johor Bahru. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim revealed that the government plans to introduce additional bus routes, boost the frequency of bus and KTM Komuter services, and provide Grab shuttle services in high-demand areas.

These measures will be implemented before the opening of the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link next year. "Traffic congestion in Johor Bahru needs to be tackled urgently," Anwar stated during the presentation of Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat. The government's decision to prioritize e-ART is intended to enhance public transport connectivity and ease traffic congestion, as cross-border travel between Johor Bahru and Singapore is set to increase significantly with the RTS Link's opening.

On October 2, the Malaysian and Singaporean governments confirmed that passenger service on the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will commence in February 2027. The Land Transport Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Transport Malaysia jointly informed RTS Operations Pte Ltd of the revised timeline.