Caretaker Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on the federal government to expedite the open tender and implementation of the Elevated Autonomous Rapid Transit (e-ART) project before the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins operations on January 1, 2027 [1, 2]. He said, "There is one project that must remain our focus and be accelerated, namely the e-ART project," and asked, "The question now is when will this project start? The people of Johor want to know when we can conduct a site visit together for this project" [1].
The e-ART system is seen as a vital long-term solution to the expected rise in passenger volumes entering Johor Baru with the RTS Link service connecting Bukit Chagar station in Johor Baru to Woodlands North station in Singapore [1, 3, 2]. Delays in launching the e-ART project risk worsening traffic congestion in Johor Baru’s city centre once the RTS Link begins [1, 3, 4, 2].
The project proposal was tabled in Cabinet in 2024, but as of mid-June 2026, no Letter of Award (LOA) has been issued and physical construction has not started [1, 3, 2]. Construction is estimated to take four to five years after it begins [1, 2]. Johor MP Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong criticized the Transport Ministry for a lack of urgency and said the Public-Private Partnership Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department is responsible for the project [3]. He expressed frustration: "That is why the e-ART project is so critical. Unfortunately, until today, there is still no clear answer on when the Letter of Award (LOA) will be issued, when physical works will commence, and when the system will actually begin operations" [3].
Short and medium-term efforts to address traffic include expanding Park and Ride facilities and reorganising bus, taxi, and e-hailing services at JB Sentral [1, 2]. Improvements are also ongoing at Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine complexes, though system glitches still cause problems during peak travel times and require upgrades, Onn Hafiz said [4].
Johor contributes an estimated RM20 billion to RM30 billion annually in tax revenue to the federal government but receives about RM2.6 billion in allocations [4]. Onn Hafiz proposed that if the federal government returns 25% of tax revenue collected from Johor—as suggested by the state’s Regent—Johor could consider self-funding the e-ART project [4]. Johor leaders compare the e-ART project's scale to Penang's Mutiara Line LRT with a RM16.8 billion budget ceiling, which has already begun construction [1, 3, 2].
Wee proposed federal funding between RM10 billion and RM16.8 billion for the e-ART, with the Johor state government managing implementation [3]. The RTS Link remains scheduled to start operations on January 1, 2027 [1, 3, 2].
