Singapore’s public transport system has achieved significant milestones and has ambitious plans ahead, but there are some who feel they have fallen through the cracks where connectivity is still not optimal.Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at how connected Singapore's land transport system is even as the country ramps up its rail network in the coming decade.
Suggestions to improve connectivity include having express buses and more frequent feeder buses, given that it is not realistic to expand the rail network to every estate The new Thomson-East Coast Line stations opened to much fanfare, as residents living in areas such as Bayshore, Siglap, Marine Parade, and Tanjong Rhu can now enjoy the long-awaited convenience of getting to town via the MRT.
To that end, the Land Transport Authority will expand the rail network and active mobility network , improve bus speeds, and grow the number of employment centres outside the central business district.While Singapore’s public transport system has achieved significant milestones and has ambitious plans ahead, there are still areas for improvement, residents and transport analysts told TODAY.
"Even though Balestier is in the central area, I wouldn't say it's well-connected. If you were to go to town, it's convenient, but to other places, and coming from other neighbourhoods, it's not convenient for me," said Mr Neo, 50. Currently, the nearest MRT stations at Pasir Ris and Upper Changi is a 30-minute bus ride away, while travelling to the planned Loyang Station along the upcoming Cross Island Line will still take 15 minutes.
In situations like Ms Mardiana's, bicycles and personal mobility devices were often used to bridge first- and last-mile connectivity gaps before 2019, but the latter was “Very often, if you live in the wrong part of the island, you can’t take jobs and meetings that are further away. And this is something our transport system should aspire to address,” said Dr Fan.
He noted that jobs are mainly concentrated in the central business district and Jurong, while most middle- and lower-income residents live in outlying public housing estates, leading to longer travel times. "It's not just about improving the average but making the distribution more uniform so that no Singaporeans are strongly disadvantaged."As buses play a crucial role in linking certain estates to the MRT network, another area of concern for commuters is the frequency of buses in neighbourhoods with limited services.and is described as “world-class”, putting the Republic on par with other major cities such as Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo.