After riding the first phase of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line on its opening day, we came away happy to have a modern train line connecting many points of interest and areas that previously had no rail connection. However, our stops at certain stations, namely Bandar Utama and Mutiara Damansara, raised some questions on accessibility and infrastructure surrounding the stations.
As updated in our original post, we went for a ride from Pusat Bandar Damansara to Bandar Utama this afternoon and encountered a very tricky path to get to First Avenue and 1 Utama. As the link bridge to the mall is still under construction, one has no choice but to cross over to the “1 Powerhouse” building, which is the park and ride facility cum feeder bus station. It is opposite Sri Pentas along Persiaran Bandar Utama.
From here, it’s a short distance to the hotel and mall, but heavy construction along Persiaran BU and Dataran BU means that the otherwise short walk to 1U is not straightforward. One must navigate pass unfinished walkways along Persiaran BU towards Shell and walk certain stretches on the road itself, which is rough and narrow due to the construction (see pic below). As predicted, the link bridge and construction surrounding the station is out of MRT Corp’s hands.
The company clarifies that linkways and bridges linking MRT stations with private property are being built by the respective property owners, at their own cost and construction schedules, as per the agreements with MRT Corp. On the train company’s part, its stations were designed to accommodate these linkways.
There are a few examples of such linkways, besides the much needed Bandar Utama bridge mentioned above. There will be one linking the Mutiara Damansara station to The Curve, one connecting Surian station to Sunway Nexis and Tropicana Gardens, and one linking the Kg Selamat station to the upcoming D’sara Sentral (Mah Sing) and SqWhere (SDB) developments in Sungai Buloh. All are yet to be completed.
“While the best efforts were made to coordinate with the private property owners for the completion times of these linkways, the construction schedules were ultimately beyond the control of MRT Corp,” the company said in a statement.
So for now, to get to 1U (old wing) safely, take the T812 feeder bus from the 1 Powerhouse. There’s also a T809 bus from Mutiara Damansara station entrance B that goes to the mall. It is understood that 1 Utama is also providing a free shuttle service from the Powerhouse to the mall. Walking to The Curve/Ikea from Mutiara Damansara is much less hazardous; take exit B and get to the mall via the Royale Chulan Damansara hotel like we did.
As for the other linkways, the condos and mixed developments are currently under construction, so there’s no need for the bridges to be ready at this point in time.
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On the first day of the MRT Operations, I parked at 1U new wing at 10am and from there had no idea how to get to the MRT. No signage from the 1U Management pointing to the MRT or availability of shuttle busses.I walked from the new wing to the old wing, to the One World hotel and asked the concierge how to get to the MRT. Then he pointed somewhere near Sri Pentas. I got to Sri Pentas and the AP pointed me on that path which is the same path in the first picture of this article. I walked on that path under the damn hot sun sweating like crazy and eventually crossed the construction zone under the eyes of foreign construction workers (I 100% don’t recommend this path to ladies), walked along the smelly drain and crossed the dusty road to the main building. Had to ask another contractor how to get to the platform because as you guessed it, zero signage. What a horrible execution by MRT Corp and I also blame 1Utama Management because it is almost as if they don’t want shoppers coming or going via the MRT.
As for the Mutiara Damansare station, it was much better executed as described by Danny above. Kudos to them for building the linkway way before MRT started operations.
Ditch the MRT. Just use Grab
komplen kuat sial nih
kalau dekat singapore jalan tgh2 panas tak komplen pula
bodoh
we komplen coz we all sayang Malaysia. Boleh!!!
Betul Zarina ……!
u tak suka lihat orang complain u keluar. The table has been turned, how about that?
1U station is located next to TV3 near old wing so why did you go and park at new wing…you complant at your own stupidity lor…no need to make a karangan with 50 patah perkataan…always complaint one…
Did it not occur to you I would do some shopping at the new wing after taking the MRT? Ingat ko tu pandai tapi…
MRT tak kisah pun ko nak shopping ke idak. asalkan dia berdekatan dgn shopping complex sudah. yang lain to up the building management la. nak untung byk org shopping buat la bridge link. Semua nak senang. komplen byk.
Ini lagi satu mat rempit sesat kat ruang komen. Baik taip dalam BM sebab diorang ni tak faham bahasa omputeh. Bila masa bagitau aku parking kat new wing semata-mata nak naik MRT pun aku tak tahu. Aku letak komen nak bagitau singage tak ada dan laluan tak selamat tapi kau jadi macam mat bodo kipidap letak komen tak waras. Balik lubang cacing lah.
So, in another words… ini bukan salah MRT?
Of course not…in fact you can build your own walkway or bridge and connect to mrt…your own cost and schedule…why should we care…
In other words, save our money. They already got lucky to get mrt in front of their properties
RM2 BILLION dijimat dari kos asal projek MRT
Jimat 1/5 bro! Ada org kata asal kos 100B, tapi PM berjaya turunkan hingga 21B saja! Penjimatan hampir 80%!
Seperti dijanjikan, harga kereta akan diturunkan secara berperingkat hingga 2017. #janji ditepati
Harga kreta sepatutnya dinaikan supaya org lebih pakai MRT & LRT & bus dari gunakan kreta sendiri
Si bodoh atas ni ingat malaysia ni cuma area klang valley sahaja. Tunjuk aku mana MRT kat Johor dan mana LRT kat Sarawak dulu. Lain lah kalau cadangkan orang klang valley je dikenakan caj lebih beli kereta, hahaha!
some people just can’t understand..
The problem preventing users to use public transport is intermodalism.
Until now never learned!!!! Last 4 years buat forum dah highlight, MRT Corp cakap ok ok…..we will not burdened the commuters…..sama je…..projek gajah putih, next 6 years, kena salvage lagi ini project…….
Yeah, thats what u pipu said with LRTs & monorel. Look at it now.
I guess you haven’t been to kl.. light rail transit is a must there..
The problem with one utama management is that they believe feng sui. When crowd coming in from the north, it will bring bad luck. So that is why they close the entrance from Mrt Bandar Utama. The apek See Hoy Cuan installed four cannon for good feng sui on top the roof of sri pentas. Kudos for the developer for Mutiara Damansara for providing pathway to the curve
Then we don’t got to 1Utama lah.
Let’s all go to curve area. At least the Surian tower link is under construction and probably will be ready before the 1Utama link is even starting their work.
Bad calls 1Utama. This MRT project was announced five years ago. They should have started the project when MRT is building their stations.
Then they could get the free promotion from the free rides we get. Tak take opportunity on this one. Rugi.
These feedback highlights the distinction between the role of a contractor and responsibility for users/customers’ experience. Who is responsible for connecting the dots between contractor constructed MRT and the customers’ destination (end to end)? Why is users/customer’s experience at the bottom of priorites for this government project?
Pls read. As mentioned above, its the responsibility of the adjacent property owners to connect to MRT stations. Gov cannot be spoonfeeding until reach ur doorstep.
In Singapore the government takes the initiative to work with the property owners to make the last mile connections. Perhaps we can learn from them?
In HK and SG, property owner build their own link to tap into the station. MRT corp here did work with these property owner but they are too greedy to ask for tax payers money to build for them.
In SG, if private property developers dun work with Gov and forced to follow instructions, their Gov will tarik balik lesen & no more business in SG. Yeah, maybe we can learn this from them.
it will take awhile. teething problems.
simple…if mrt want to build the connection to private building…I believe the building owner may try their luck to impose ridiculous charges to MRT … like..damage fee…rental fee… security fee etc … so now..MRT let it open..you want build the link..you are welcome but at your own cost … good
Just like when MRT wanna build near to private properties. Them selfish and greedy owners straight ask for compensation (b4 building starts!) and/or demand MRT buyover their property at skyhigh prices.
MY will never be successful when filled with such pipu.
when one goes to London and has to do the same (walk from tube station to a certain specific building), no complain. in malaysia this lah, that lah.. difficult and so on and so forth. all the lame excuses to keep using personal transportation.
We not actually complain..DK saying tat really not convenien to finding the stattion. The signage should enough and clear at least easy access between station and one U. As we all know One U is big building , I do lost inside sometimes…
Because malaysia panas, london sejuk..