FUTURE OF SINGAPORE
TRANSPORTATION
In this series of city blog, earlier we have shared various
aspects of Singapore and its transportation system. Singapore has one of the
best transportation infrastructure in the world. In this last blog we will discuss
the future development that the Government of Singapore and Land Transport
Authority (LTA) has planned for Singaporeans.
The government of Singapore has
already begun taking actions by investing and improving existing public transit
for the future population demand. As per the Master plan 2008, Singapore
governments’ first target is making public transport as a mode of choice.
Presently close to 60% of Singaporeans use public transit, which Singapore
government targets to increase to 70% by 2020. Increased capacity of
transportation modes and multimodal developments can be seen as the objectives
in the coming years. LTA is investing heavily (S$50 billion) in rail
improvements and expansion. Current rail coverage will be doubled by 2030
creating a rail network of 360 km. This involves expanding three existing rail
lines and developing two new rail lines. LTA target is bringing 8 in 10 households to be within
10-minute walk of a rail station by 2030. Development of integrated transport
hubs, which allows transfer from bus to train (light rail) or vice versa possible
in the same facility, is considered one of the key issues so that travel demand
can be minimized. Transport hubs are bustling with the shopping malls, and
other recreational facilities. In our previous blogs we discussed about actions
taken by LTA to increase first and last mile connectivity by introducing light
rail. Recently LTA announced improving the connectivity for active transporters
by creating sheds to the connecting passages to the rail stations and promoting
“walk2ride” as a good and safe experience.
Singapore is a small state with a land area approximately 700
square kilometers and accommodating more than five million people. This
statistics makes Singapore second most densely populated city in the world. And
this exactly is the challenge that LTA and the Singapore government will face
in future.
The government of Singapore has
already begun taking actions by investing and improving existing public transit
for the future population demand. As per the Master plan 2008, Singapore
governments’ first target is making public transport as a mode of choice.
Presently close to 60% of Singaporeans use public transit, which Singapore
government targets to increase to 70% by 2020. Increased capacity of
transportation modes and multimodal developments can be seen as the objectives
in the coming years. LTA is investing heavily (S$50 billion) in rail
improvements and expansion. Current rail coverage will be doubled by 2030
creating a rail network of 360 km. This involves expanding three existing rail
lines and developing two new rail lines. LTA target is bringing 8 in 10 households to be within
10-minute walk of a rail station by 2030. Development of integrated transport
hubs, which allows transfer from bus to train (light rail) or vice versa possible
in the same facility, is considered one of the key issues so that travel demand
can be minimized. Transport hubs are bustling with the shopping malls, and
other recreational facilities. In our previous blogs we discussed about actions
taken by LTA to increase first and last mile connectivity by introducing light
rail. Recently LTA announced improving the connectivity for active transporters
by creating sheds to the connecting passages to the rail stations and promoting
“walk2ride” as a good and safe experience.
Another important target that LTA
has set up in coming years in managing land use. Vehicle population growth is
controlled in Singapore through vehicle quota system certificate of entitlement
and other taxes. Some other taxes include road taxes in terms of electronic
road pricing. Technological advancement are making pricing more convenient and
efficient over the years. LTA is planning to bring pricing on the basis of
vehicle miles travelled, along with the time and location of the travel. Restricted
land area, which limits the road capacity, justifies these bold actions taken
by the Singapore government.
Singapore runs one of the best
public transport systems in Asia and shows compatibility in infrastructure with
the developed cities in the world. In the coming years it will be interesting
to observe the implementation of various
transport policies by the Singapore government to satisfying increasing transport
demands by growing population, which can serve as a role model to the emerging
developing nations worldwide.
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