TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS

By: Mohammad Syazani b ShaifulRizal, Mohd Alif Farhan b Mohammad Fauzi, Khairun Nisa bt Abdul Malek, Nor Azreena bt Mohd Nor'aini and Nur Ain bt Che Mat Ali

1.0    INTRODUCTION 

According to (Adam Hayes, 2020) transportation is one of the services used to transport people or goods from one place to another place. Transportation is very important especially for the economic sector. Without transportation, that place unable to grow rapidly and will give impact to various sectors. This sector is one of the government's top earners. Factors affecting the sector are fuel, manpower such as drivers for the vehicle, the geography of the place and even laws issued by the government. There are several types of transportation uses such as private, public and industrial uses such as cargo transport. According to (European Union, 2015) the types of transportation are divided into several categories:

•       Air transport - This vehicle has wings where the function of the wings is where the special geometry of the wing produces lift and then lift the entire vehicle inside the vehicle. This vehicle is also the preferred choice for many transactions and activities today as it is faster and saves time. Examples of air transport are aircraft, jets and helicopters.

•      Water transport – these vehicles used to cross seas, lakes, rivers, canals and bodies of water. Before the advent of air transport, water transport was the main vehicle used in the past to carry out various activities. Examples of water vehicles are ships, submarines, ferries, passenger boats and boats.

•    Land transport – these vehicles used to cross land from one place to another. This vehicle is the most important vehicle for the transport sector. land transport is divided into two, namely, roadway and rail. examples of roadway transport are bus, motorcycle and bus while for example rail transport is train.

•      Human powered transport - It serves to transport goods or places that use human power. it is also the best way to get to places with less access or areas of advanced development.

•      Animal powered transportation - It works to transport goods or pull wheelchairs.

•   Other mode transportation – example like drone, pipeline transportation delivers goods through pipelines, for example liquids and gas. and space transport like spacecraft

 

 1.1    Aim

The aim of this analysis is to study the traffic volume, road hierarchy, traffic management, parking capacity and modes of transport used to improve the transportation services in Langkawi.

1.2    Objectives

The objectives for this case study are:

Figure 1.1 Objective of Transportation Sector

                       

1.3    Scope of study

The scope of study involved five sectors as follow:

   Figure 1.2 Scope of Study

                                                                                                                                

2.0    THE  ACCESSIBILITY BETWEEN MAIN ATTRACTION PLACES IN LANGKAWI

Figure 1.3 The Distance and Time Travel Between Proposed Site and Main Attraction Place in Langkawi

The proposed site area is located at Kuah’s Town, Langkawi. Kuah’s Town act as centre of commercial area, administrative centre and transportation. So, based on the map above, the proposed site is strategically located within the landmark and main attraction places that have been stated above. The tourist and local people can travel to the main attraction places via 5 major road which is Persiaran Putra, Jalan Padang Matsirat, Langkawi Highway, Jalan Ayer Hangat, Jalan Pantai Cenang and Jalan Teluk Yu. These major road gives major impact to the transportation sector in Langkawi because people travel around Langkawi via motorcycle, cars, van, and bicycle. 

 

3.0    MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

Based on Wikipedia, mode of transport is a term used to distinguish between different ways of transportation or transporting people or goods. The different modes of transport are air, water, and land transport, which includes Rails or railways, road and off-road transport. Other modes also exist, including pipelines, cable transport, and space transport. Human-powered transport and animal-powered transport are sometimes regarded as their own mode, but never fall into the other categories. In general, transportation is used for moving of people, animals, and other goods from one place to another. The means of transport, on the other hand, refers to the (motorized) vehicles necessary for transport according to the chosen mode (car, airplane, ship, truck and rail). Each mode of transport has a fundamentally different technological solution, and some require a separate environment. Each mode has its own infrastructure, vehicles, and operations.

There are several types mode of transportation of Pekan Kuah, Langkawi. These include in 3 categories of transportation which is air, land and water. In addition, for air transport are flight. While, for land transport are e-hailing, taxi and van rental but for water transport at Pekan Kuah, Langkawi are ferry and roro. These types modes of transportation are those that carry out services either in the around Pekan Kuah and this transport is used to arrive at Langkawi. So, there are mode of transportation that I will analyzes from the observation and secondary data at Pekan Kuah, Langkawi.

3.1    MODES OF TRANSPORT IN LANGKAWI

          3.1.1    Flight

Flight is one of the transportations that tourist use to visit the Pekan Kuah, Langkawi. The Langkawi International Airport is located on the island of free tax Langkawi and the distance from airport to Pekan Kuah with drive a car is 15.8 kilometer or 25 minutes. For the secondary data that I get, there are a type of airlines operated here such as AirAsia, Malindo Air, Thai Lion Air, FireFly, Singapore Airlines, China Southen and Scoot. The destination that use the AirAsia Airlines are Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore. Besides, another place that related with Langkawi International Airport is Guangzhou, Doha, Birminghan, London and Manchester. Refer figure 1.4 airlines and destination that related with Langkawi International Airport. So, we also can see the statistic of passengers handled using a flight to visit Langkawi. The statistic of this always increase from year to year. That is because the tourist is happy when visit Langkawi and the aircraft movement of every year very high. So that, the Langkawi will be famous from year to year. Refer figure 1.5 the statistic of Langkawi International Airport from 2014 to 2017.

Figure 1.4 Langkawi International Airport. (2020, April 23). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkawi_International_Airport

Figure 1.5 Statistik Penerbangan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi - MAMPU. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.data.gov.my/data/ms_MY/dataset/statistik-penerbangan-lapangan-terbang-antarabangsa-langkawi-2014-2017

          3.1.2    E-hailing, Taxi, Van Rental

The other mode of transport at Pekan Kuah, Langkawi is e-hailing, taxi and van rental. E-hailing is a smart phone application system used to book car pick up services for passengers. Next, taxi is a car used as a public transport services to pick up passenger and the van rental is a specially booked van before visiting Langkawi. So, from this we can see the differences prices between e-hailing, taxi and car rental. The e-hailing is starting in early December 2019 and this apps can make it easy for tourists to get a car. E-hailing transport capacity depends on the vehicle whereas for a car or taxi capacity of only 4 or 5 cars and for a rental van, the capacity of a van is 16 to 18 people. This transportation is important for visitors to make sure their journey around Pekan Kuah, Langkawi is smooth despite the cost of e-hailing, taxis and rental vans being relatively expensive. Refer figure 1.6 the price of e-hailing, taxi and van rental at Pekan Kuah Langkawi. 

Figure 1.6 Admin, A. (2019, December 14). Pengalaman Naik Grab di Langkawi - Lebih Berbaloi. Retrieved from 

https://blog.pakej.my/info/pengalaman-naik-grab-di-langkawi/

Figure 1.6 Admin, A. (2019, December 14). Perkhidmatan Sewa Van Langkawi 2020. Retrieved from
 https://blog.pakej.my/info/sewa-van-langkawi/

          3.1.3    Ferry

Ferry is one of the transportations that tourists use to visits Langkawi. From the observation and secondary data, there are 3 jetty that associated with the jetty Pekan Kuah Langkawi which is jetty Kuala Kedah, jetty Kuala Perlis and jetty Penang. The Pekan Kuah Jetty is the main tourist entrance to Langkawi Island for the ferry ride. The time taken by ferry from Kuala Kedah jetty to Pekan Kuah jetty is 1 hour 45 minutes and runs from 7 am to 7 pm every one hour. Furthermore, for Kuala Perlis jetty to Pekan Kuah jetty, it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes and also runs from 7 am to 7 pm every 1 hour. In addition, for the journey from penang jetty to the gravy jetty it takes 2 hours 45 minutes and operates only 2 trips a day. Based on data that I get from the ferry management is the fare charged for each jetty is different between Kuala Kedah jetty, Kuala Perlis jetty and Penang jetty. Refer figure 1.7 the data of Kuala Kedah jetty, Kuala Perlis jetty and Penang jetty. Not only that, the data that I get is 64.50% of tourists use the ferry to visit langkawi while for airports only 30.90% of tourists ride it. Refer figure 1.8 pie chart transport used to enter Langkawi. therefore, ferry transportation is an important transport to improve economy in Pekan Kuah, Langkawi.

figure 1.7 Langkawi. (n.d.). Retrieved from

 https://www.jomjalan.com.my/information/malaysia/kedah/langkawi/panduan-feri/

Figure 1.8 Kdhmlp. (2020, January 14). Pelancongan. Retrieved from

http://www.mplbp.gov.my/ms/rakyat/perkhidmatan/pelancongan

3.2    FINDING

The finding mode of transportation is tourists and residents at Pekan Kuah Langkawi demand for the authorities to provide bus for facilitate travel around Langkawi. So, from the observation and secondary data, we can see that the majority mode of transport at Pekan Kuah Langkawi is flight, feri, e-hailing, taxi and car rental. Therefore, the tourists and residents are demand for bus to make it easier for them to travel around the island

4.0    ROAD CIRCULATION

4.1    Main Entrance and Accessibility

There are five (5)  main entrances to Kuah town. It involves two (2) entrances via waterway and three (3) roadway in Langkawi Island. For main entrances via waterways, its through the Jetty Kuala Kedah and Jetty Kuala Perlis. While for main entrance in Langkawi Island to Kuah are involve from Jalan Padang Matsirat, Jalan Padang Goang and Jalan Ayer Hangat.

                                                                                                Figure 1.9 Entrance and Accessibility Map

  4.1.1    Entrance from Ferry Route

           There are two route for ferry namely from Jetty Kuala Kedah and Jetty Kuala Perlis to Langkawi Island.

                                                                                                                          Figure 1.10 Ferry Route

  Figure 1.11 Jetty Kuala Kedah                   Figure 1.12 Jetty Kuala Perlis

            4.1.2 Entrance from Langkawi Island

There are three main entrance route are located in Langkawi Island to Kuah Town which is from Jalan Padang Matsirat, Jalan ayer Hangat and Jalan Padang Gaong

 

 Figure 1.13 Jalan Ayer Hangat      Figure 1.14 Jalan Padang Gaong       Figure 1.15 Jalan Padang Matsirat

       

   4.2    Intersection

The intersection can be define as the connection road by two or more roads. The intersection road generally will be in four junction, t junction, y junction or roundabout that been designed in places where the vehicle traffic can move in different directions in a systematic way. With the junction interchange, it can help to reduce the accident to occur and to make the traffic flow smooth with have the provideness of traffic light. Traffic light at the junction of the road is been controlled and resumed in a systematic way to resume their respective direction with the help of traffic signals.

            

            4.2.1  Road Junction

Road junctions are designed at place where vehicular traffic can move in different directions in a systematic way. Road junction decrease the probability of accidents. The traffic at road junctions is controlled and resumed in a systematic way to proceed further in their respective directions with the help of traffic signals.

Figure 1.16 Road circulation of Kuah  show the Junction and 

Potential Accidents Area

 1. Four Junction

Figure 1.17 Four Junction

From the analysis, there are show the location that located four junction in the area of main junction of Kuah between Jalan Padang Matsirat and Jalan Ayer Hangat

 

               2. T Junction

Figure 1.18 T Junction

From the analysis, there are show the location that located four junction in the area of Jalan Ayer Hangat, Jalan Padang Matsirat, Persiaran Putera and Langkawi Highway.

 

                         3. Y Junction

Figure 1.19 Y Junction

From the analysis, there are show the location that located four junction in the area of Jalan Inderaloka and Persiaran Putera.

 

            4.1.2     Accidents Area

A dangerous road is an unplanned and undesired occurrence (incident) which has the potential to cause injury and which may or may not cause damage to property, equipment or the environment. An accident, also known as an unintentional injury, is an undesirable, incidental, and unplanned event that could have been recognized, and acted upon, prior to it’s occurrence. Most scientists who study unintentional injury avoid  using the term “accident” and focus  on factors that increase risk of severe injury and that reduce injury incidence and severity.

 

Figure 1.20 The Confusing Main Junction Jalan Padang Matsirat

   and Jalan Ayer Hangat

Figure 1.21 The  Junction Persiaran Putera

                                                                                          

This area may cause a lot of accident because the junction have staggered junction, the user of the road may cause an injuries and died at the junction. This is serious issues to be discuss. Several roads meet a main road at a slight distance a part thus they do not all come together at the same point and normally , the distance between junction must not less than 130 feet.

 

 4.2     Parking

Parking can defined as facilities which is major cost to society and parking conflicts are among the most common problems facing designer, planners and others. The numbers of cars on roads keep increasing day by day and lead more congestion during peak hour. This condition forces the driver to take a longer time finding the empty parking.

              4.2.1    Type of Parking

At study area, there are two type of parking provision which devide on-street parking and off-street parking. On street parking that have in Kuah focus on commercial area only and were Right-Angle Parking (90°), Parallel Parking (180°) and Herring Bone Parking (60°). Most off-street parking are mostly on private lots. For example at Jetty Kuah, and Pekan Rabu. 

                                                                            

       Figure 1.22 Off-Street Parking and On-Street Parking

Based on observation, on-street parking means vehicle parks that located on street. On street parking can be found or located along the commercial service road at Jalan Padang Matsirat. Off-street parking at Kuah can be found inside the Jetty Kuah or private lots at Haji Ismail Group (HiG).

 

Figure 1.23 Herring Bone Parking (60° and  90°)

Figure 1.24 Parallel Parking (180°)

               4.4.2    Demand and Supply of Parking

Parking demands refer to the amount of parking that would be used at a particular time and place. Parking demand and supply study focused on commercial area which is on-street parking and off-street parking are provided at study area.

5.0    TRAFFIC VOLUME

          5.1    Zone 1

Figure 1.25 Road Plan (Zone 1) 

The traffic volume at Jalan Dato Syed Omar and Persiaran Putra is very high during peak hour. This is because some of taxi driver park their car or van along the road to pick up tourist or local people that arrive at Langkawi by ferry.  The parking capacity at Persiaran Putra and Jalan Dato Syed Omar also are not enough. So, traffic congestion occurs at these two roads that have been stated. Jalan Inderaloka, Jalan Beringin and Jalan Penarak have low traffic volume during peak hour because these three roads are rarely used by people.

            5.2    Zone 2

Figure 1.26 Road Plan (Zone 2)

The traffic volume at Jalan Putra and Persiaran Mutiara is very high during peak hour. This is because the commercial area and administrative centre such as Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi are located in front of Jalan Putra while the commercial area are located at Persiaran Mutiara. The parking capacity at commercial area are enough. Jalan Ayer Hangat also get congested during peak hour because the road act as main road that people use to travel from the north of Langkawi to Kuah’s Town. Jalan Lencongan Putra 3, Jalan Lencongan Putra, Langkawi Highway and Jalan Penarak have low traffic volume during peak hour.

             5.3    Zone 3

Figure 1.27 Road Plan (Zone 3)

The traffic volume at Jalan Bunga Raya, Jalan Mutiara 2 and Jalan Padang Mat Sirat is very high during peak hour. This is because the commercial area located at Jalan Bunga Raya and Jalan Mutiara 2 while people from the west of Langkawi using Jalan Padang Mat Sirat to travel to Kuah’s Town. The parking capacity at commercial area are not enough especially at Jalan Bunga Raya.  Jalan Kelibang, Jalan Padang Gaong and Jalan Taman Pelangi have low traffic volume during peak hour.

6.0    THE STATISTICS OF ACCIDENT CASES IN LANGKAWI

•       This data is an accident statistics at Langkawi.

•       This data year is taken from 2017, 2018 and 2019.

•       This data covers accidents cases at Langkawi.

•       All the results obtained are presented in the form of table and graphs. As a result of the analysis, it was to identify the number of accidents in Langkawi  and it will be used for future studies.

•       For this study, the categories were separate by year and by total data.

 

6.1    The Statistics of Accident Cases in Langkawi for 2017

                                                                                        Table 1.1: The statistics of accident cases in Langkawi  for 2017 

                                                                                                                                                                                         Sources: JKR Langkawi 2017                                                                                                                                                                                            

The table above shows the results of the analysis for the month and the type of road for the statistics of accident cases in Langkawi for 2017. As a result, the total number of these accident cases is 276 cases for 2017.

For the highest cases, the month shows the highest case was December for 31 cases while the street name for the highest case was Jalan Air Hangat of 125 cases. In the case of the lowest case, the month with the lowest case was September, which was 17 cases while the name of the road indicating the lowest case was Jalan Inderaloka and Jalan Dato Syed Omar where no case was recorded.

6.2    The Statistics Of Accident Cases In Langkawi For 2018

                  Table 1.2: The statistics of accident cases in Langkawi  for 2018

                              (Sources: JKR Langkawi 2018)                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The table above shows the results of the analysis for the month and the type of road for the statistics of accident cases in Langkawi for 2018. As a result, the total number of these accident cases is 299 cases for 2018.

 For the highest cases, the month shows the highest case was October for 32 cases while the street name for the highest case was Jalan Air Hangat of 139 cases. In the case of the lowest case, the month with the lowest case was January, which was 18 cases while the name of the road indicating the lowest case was Jalan Inderaloka and Jalan Dato Syed Omar where no case was recorded.

6.3    The Statistics Of Accident Cases In Langkawi For 2019

                  Table 1.3: The statistics of accident cases in Langkawi  for 2019                    

                                                                                                                                                                              (Sources: JKR Langkawi 2019)                                                                                                                                                                                                              

The table above shows the results of the analysis for the month and the type of road for the statistics of accident cases in Langkawi for 2019. As a result, the total number of these accident cases is 309 cases for 2019.

For the highest cases, the month shows the highest case was March for 39 cases while the street name for the highest case was Jalan Air Hangat of 125 cases. In the case of the lowest case, the month with the lowest case was November, which was 16 cases while the name of the road indicating the lowest case was Jalan Inderaloka where no case was recorded.

6.4    The Statistics Of Accident Cases In Langkawi

Table 1.4: The statistics of accident cases in Langkawi 

              (Sources : JKR Langkawi )                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Graph 1.1: The statistics of accident cases in Langkawi

         (Sources : JKR Langkawi )                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The table and the graph show the results of the analysis for the road name and the year for the statistics of accident cases in Langkawi. As a result, the total number of these accident 884 cases.

For the highest cases, the road name shows the highest case was Jalan Ayer Hangat for 385 cases while year for the highest case was 2019 for 309 cases. In the case of the lowest case, the road name with the lowest case was Jalan Inderaloka, where no case was recorded while the year the lowest case was 2017 where 276 cases.

 

7.0    ISSUES

The level of public transportation and traffic management in Kuah Town, Langkawi is an important and sensitive issues which must be appropriately addressed. Major issues found regarding the transportation sector are described below: 

a)    Parking Issues

Based on the observation done in Kuah Town, Langkawi, the town centres have a major parking problem regarding the lack of car parking areas with imbalance of parking supply and demand which can be considered as the main initial reason for all this issues to happen and resulting to a non-stop congestion especially during the peak hours.

Other main reason on these issues is because of the concentration of activities which require high rate of cars in the same area. For example, in Jalan Dato’ Syed Umar which act as the concentrating district centres which located near to the Kuah jetty.   

Figure 1.28 Example of side parking which caused traffic flow to be slow

                                                                                   Figure 1.29 Illegal parking on site area

      b)    Signage Issues

Regarding on the signage issues found on site, there are signage that is not well-maintained and covered up with bushes. Thus, lead to a visibility issues towards the road user. This poorly maintained signage roadways will cause an unwanted accident in a variety of ways, mostly due to the fact that there is enormous hazard to the users.

Figure 1.30 Signage issues found on proposed site (Jalan Dato' Syed Umar)

c)    Lack of Streetlight for Traffic Management

Elements such as streetlight could barely found on proposed site. This issue creates a public concern that streetlighting is necessary for road safety  and crime prevention. 

Figure 1.31 One of the issues of the streetlight in Jalan Penarak

d)    Public Transport

It has been analysed that there is less public transport provided in Kuah, Langkawi. Van and taxi are the only functional mode in Langkawi. Thus, local people and tourists need to use other option of transportation such as rented cars or motorcycle to move or to travel within the Langkawi  area.

 

8.0 SWOT ANALYSIS

9.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, transportation and traffic flow plays an important role in revitalizing a town centre. Without this transportation sector, the development will be inefficient. Based on the analysis, conclusion we made that the most related factor which led to congestion is the condition of the road itself. The circulation of the road has to be increased with an alternative ways to disperse or reduce the congestion. Road circulation has to be improved and upgraded for user convenient and safety for road users to move from one place to another. The authority should take an action by enforcing the law and imposing stern actions towards those who did not abide to the rules by parking illegally.

 

REFERENCES

Mode of transport. (2020, May 3). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_of_transport

Langkawi International Airport. (2020, April 23). Retrieved from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langkawi_International_Airport

Statistik Penerbangan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi - MAMPU. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.data.gov.my/data/ms_MY/dataset/statistik-penerbangan-lapangan-terbang-antarabangsa-langkawi-2014-2017

Admin, A. (2019, December 14). Pengalaman Naik Grab di Langkawi - Lebih Berbaloi. Retrieved from https://blog.pakej.my/info/pengalaman-naik-grab-di-langkawi/

Admin, A. (2019, December 14). Perkhidmatan Sewa Van Langkawi 2020. Retrieved from https://blog.pakej.my/info/sewa-van-langkawi/

Langkawi. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.jomjalan.com.my/information/malaysia/kedah/langkawi/panduan-feri/

Kdhmlp. (2020, January 14). Pelancongan. Retrieved from http://www.mplbp.gov.my/ms/rakyat/perkhidmatan/pelancongan

Adam Hayes (2020) – Sector & industries analysis, Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/transportation_sector.asp

European Union (2015) – Blending in the transport sector, Retrieved from http://europa.eu

Ibrahim, H. E.-D. (2017). Car Parking Problem in Urban Areas, Causes and Solutions. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3163473

Khalilikhah, M., & Heaslip, K. (2016). The effects of damage on sign visibility: An assist in traffic sign replacement. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition), 3(6), 571–581. doi: 10.1016/j.jtte.2016.03.009

Welsh B, Farrington D. Effects of improved street lighting on crime. Campbell SysRev 2008;13:1–51.