Assessing the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) for Kuala Lumpur Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a quantitative assessment of the performance of the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) potential of the Putrajaya Line rail stations of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in the municipality of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL). The study's objectives are to identify significant criteria and sub-criteria for measuring the TOD Potential of rail stations in Kuala Lumpur, to evaluate the potential of the rail stations using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) analysis, to rank the performance of the stations, and finally to propose recommendations to maximise the stations' potential to be fully integrated as TOD stations. The study involved primary and secondary data collection. The primary data collection encompassed site observation to provide the adjacent context of the sites in their natural setting. Other secondary statistical data were extracted from the stations' Geographic Information System (GIS) plans, MRT websites and Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan and City Plan 2040 as secondary data. The research selected twenty-two sub-criteria within four criteria covering the dimensions of TOD such as; (1) density, (2) land-use diversity, (3) zoning diversity and (4) access and demand. These criteria were derived from the theoretical framework to select and identify the criteria and sub-criteria from the literature. Guidelines were proposed in selecting the criteria and sub-criteria to ensure the practicality and relevancy of the criteria chosen. Then, normalised and integrated weights on the criteria and sub-criteria were derived from earlier works by previous scholars. The research used Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) as the method for multi-criteria decision-making analysis. The method applied to solve the theoretical problem by determining the best ideal solution to identify the performance level of the twenty-one MRT stations in Kuala Lumpur. The results were presented in the form of the final score and ranking comparisons of the stations based on their performance regarding TOD and the chosen criteria and sub-criteria. From the analysis and findings of the research, the study concluded that the density criterion was recorded as the highest, followed by access and demand, zoning and land use diversity. The average score for the overall ranking was recorded at the value of 0.3847. Among all the twenty-one stations, only four stations were categorised as high potential, six stations as medium-high potential, four stations identified as medium-low potential and seven stations scored low potential to be developed as TOD. The recommendations were made based on the criteria proposed in the study and the station that performed poorly based on the analysis. Thus, the study of assessing the TOD potential of MRT Putrajaya Line stations in Kuala Lumpur is significant in providing a comprehensive evaluation for the proposed TOD site. This study helps to ensure urban forms optimisation and utilisation of transit services to increase modal share and avoid urban sprawl.