PLUS Gears Up For Aidilfitri Traffic Increase

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) anticipates 1.6 million vehicles will use the North-South Expressway (NSE) everyday on Peak Days throughout the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays, a 20 percent increase from 1.3 million traffic on normal days.

“As such, PLUS will implement various strategies to cope with the traffic increase and at the same time, help the public enjoy smoother and more convenient journey during the holidays,” said PLUS Managing Director, Dato’ Noorizah Hj Abd Hamid.

TTA for Peak Days

As implemented during previous festive seasons, PLUS is also issuing a Travel Time Advisory schedule (TTA) for Peak Days between 1 July and 10 July.

The TTA focuses on traffic distribution and is aimed at reducing traffic congestion on the mainline, most notably at major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas. The schedule is based on studies on the public travel pattern during previous festive seasons.

The TTA is crucial as it helps to prevent highways from entering the highway at the same time and contribute to traffic congestion.

“As such, we advise the public planning to travel on the NSE and the ELITE highway on these Peak Days to follow the TTA. Based on our studies, higher adoption rate of the TTA by the public for outbound and inbound journey had resulted in smoother traffic flow on the mainline,” Noorizah said.

30 Percent Toll Rebate
“As part of an effort to distribute the traffic, PLUS will be offering a 30 percent toll rebate on 4, 8 and 11 July,” Noorizah added.

The 30 percent toll rebate will be given to Class 1 highway users paying toll electronically (via PLUSMiles, Touch ‘n Go cards or SmartTAGs) on 4, 8 and 11 July. The rebate is given to those travelling more than 100 kilometres on the NSE, the ELITE highway.

For example, a highway user travelling between Sungai Besi Toll Plaza and Skudai Toll Plaza will be able to save RM12.39 in a form toll reload as follows:-

Entry Toll Plaza	Exit Toll Plaza	Toll Charges	Savings Through 30% Eligible Toll Rebate
Sungai Besi	Skudai	RM41.30	RM12.39
Jalan Duta	Ipoh Selatan	RM26.50	RM7.95
Damansara	Juru	RM43.00	RM12.90
Putrajaya	Ayer Keroh	RM17.40	RM5.22
Juru	Ipoh Utara	RM16.80	RM5.04
Seremban	Pagoh	RM16.70	RM5.01

The toll rebate can be redeemed at all Customer Service Centres on the PLUS highways between 15 August and 14 November this year.

Improving Highway Level of Service
PLUS will also implement various strategies to improve its overall highway operations and level of service during the upcoming festive season.

“Among the initiatives are deploying more staff on the highways and the traffic monitoring centre (TMC), increasing the number of PLUSRonda teams and patrolling loops, stationing emergency rescue teams at strategic locations, providing additional parking areas and portable toilets at major rest areas, providing additional tow trucks at selected locations, deploying more than 2,300 staff at toll plazas, conducting aerial traffic surveillance and many more,” Noorizah explained.

“In addition, PLUS will open up contra flow at selected stretches on the mainline. However, the contra flow can only be activated based on the current traffic situation and approval from the Police”, Noorizah added.

Highway Traffic Updates
PLUS also advises the public to get the latest traffic updates on the NSE through the PLUSTrafik Twitter service, the PLUS Mobile Apps, the toll free PLUSLine 1800 88 0000, major radio stations and electronic message boards at strategic locations along the highways.
-www.plus.com.my