LTA seeks people's views for next land transport master plan
Ideas wanted on how to get S'poreans to use other modes of commuting
The answer is clear: Singapore wants to go car-lite.
But the question is how to coax more Singaporeans to make walking, cycling or taking public transport their preferred choice for commuting?
The Land Transport Authority (LTA), which is working on the next transport masterplan, wants people to give their ideas on what can work.
Strategies LTA has suggested include developing more road corridors with dedicated bus lanes and cycling paths and having more direct travel options like on-demand bus services.
The feedback will go towards drawing up the Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040.
To help steer the discussion, a 13-page public consultation document on the LTMP 2040 was launched yesterday by Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary at the LTA's Hampshire Road headquarters.
Guest of honour at the event was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who also opened the SG Mobility Gallery, a 1,000 sq m showcase offering visitors a glimpse at the future of Singapore's land transport system.
Mr Lee also walked from the LTA premises to Tekka Centre, where a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the LTA's $300 million Walk2Ride initiative started in 2013.
The 150m linkway connecting Little India MRT to Tekka market is the latest covered walkway to be finished under Walk2Ride. It is the last stretch of the programme to build new covered pathways totalling 200km that was set out in the previous master plan.
The public consultation paper for the LTA'S 2040 master plan has three broad themes:
- How walking, cycling and riding can be made the preferred ways to travel;
- Making these modes of commuting easier and more inclusive;
- How a land transport system can improve the quality of life.
Eight strategies have been spelt out, which includes developing regional centres so jobs and amenities are closer to home and transforming towns to be more car-lite, safer and more walkable.
Dr Janil said there are trade-offs to consider. "If we are assigning a little bit more land towards walking, cycling and riding in all of its forms, that has an impact on what we can do with roads."
The LTA has also appointed an advisory panel which is chaired by Dr Janil and comprised 14 other members.
The panel will consider public views and give its recommendations early next year.
People can find out more at www.lta.gov.sg/ltmp2040 and share their views at bit.ly/LTMP2040PCD
The LTA will also hold focus group discussions from next month to January next year.
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