Sashidaran Gunathevan
The Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) will spend RM28 million on an SS15 upgrade from 2027 to 2031. The plan targets parking, traffic and walkability in the busy commercial area.
Subang Jaya Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin announced the phased plan on Monday after a full board meeting. It adds to other MBSJ programmes for the town.
Here is who pays, where work starts and what visitors can expect.
Who pays for the SS15 upgrade
MBSJ will put in RM20 million. Developers Titijaya Land and Gamuda Land will each add RM4 million.
The RM28 million is part of a proposed RM46.42 million scheme. It follows a Think City study on how people use SS15 and how to revive it.
Beyond that, the study also outlined five other phases with preliminary costs. A social hub is priced at RM15.1 million, while zero-waste SS15 is RM1.6 million.
In addition, rejuvenation grants would cost RM800,000, and community programmes and operations RM700,000. Annual activities are estimated at RM220,000.
Meanwhile, zero-waste SS15 includes RM1 million for food-waste initiatives, RM500,000 for a waste baseline study and RM100,000 for awareness campaigns. The target is 2028.
Where the work begins
The initial phase covers Jalan SS 15/4D and the back lanes between Jalan SS 15/4 and Jalan SS 15/4B. Work will focus on placemaking, better parking and easier access for persons with disabilities.
A pilot phase will gather public feedback and test changes to traffic flow. Meanwhile, MBSJ will improve the pedestrian experience on Jalan SS 15/4D in front of the SS15 LRT Station.
For his part, Rumaizi said he hopes the changes will draw people to gather for business and recreation. As a result, SS15 could become a place to linger, not just a place to park.
The September plan also lists wider measures. They include better lighting and signage, small plazas in back alleys and e-scooter drop-off points near the LRT station.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng said earlier that the quickest option could enter the 2027 budget. That option is walkways and zebra crossings linking the LRT station and the shops, as reported in September. So far, three stakeholder sessions have been held.
Why SS15 needs it
Behind the plan, the Think City study covers a 27.5-hectare area with 513 shophouse units. Food and beverage outlets make up more than a third of licensed businesses.
Of the 1,577 people surveyed, 91.5 per cent named traffic and parking as their top daily headache. In addition, 96 per cent travel by private vehicle.
The area has 5,647 parking bays, but parking remains a problem. However, respondents also ranked safety, cleanliness and lighting first, followed by pedestrian crossings.
For now, MBSJ has not published a detailed timetable for each phase. Still, the council plans to work in stages, based on priorities and budget. Beam e-scooters were also deployed this year as a pilot. In addition, Michelle’s office is working with Bike Commute Malaysia on walking and cycling links from SS12 to SS19.
Michelle has said she expects to seek state or corporate grants on top of MBSJ funds.
In short, the SS15 upgrade is funded, phased and set for 2027. Shop owners and residents should watch for the pilot phase and its public feedback sessions.
Admin
Maran Perianen
CJMY
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