Exploring Urban Changes: The Impact of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Construction in the Context of Development in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

The Klang Valley is a city located within the state of Selangor. As known, Selangor is home to 7.8 million residents and continues to grow over time. This population increase has led to a rise in private vehicle ownership on the roads, with approximately 500,000 new vehicle registrations occurring each year. This increase in vehicles has paved the way for rail transport to operate more extensively to alleviate traffic congestion in the Klang Valley area. Rail transportation provided in and around the Klang Valley area, such as the MRT, will play a crucial role in addressing this traffic issue. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of MRT construction on land use in the Klang Valley area from 2008 to 2022. The method employed in this study involves exploring the changes in land use that have occurred in the Klang Valley area. The study findings indicate that there have been changes in land use before and after the construction of the MRT in the Klang Valley area, with significant developments and infrastructure built around the MRT station areas. The impact of this study reveals a rapid process of urbanization in the Klang Valley area with the existence of the MRT system. The MRT system has influenced land use patterns, urban growth, and infrastructure development in the Klang Valley. This study is crucial in understanding the changes in land use that have occurred in the Klang Valley before and after the construction of the MRT system.