bas dan teksi

fatz

MRT services disrupted after short-circuit at Dhoby Ghaut station
By Gamar Abdul Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 November 2007 0027 hrs
   
         
SINGAPORE: Train services were disrupted Thursday evening, caused by a cable short-circuit along the track at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.

The incident occurred at 6.13pm, and affected train services from Newton to Marina Bay MRT stations as well as those from Marina Bay to Raffles Place MRT stations.

SMRT said northbound train services from Raffles Place to Jurong East MRT stations were not disrupted, but southbound trains were turned around at Newton MRT Station.

Buses were used to ferry affected passengers from 6.48pm between Newton and Marina Bay MRT stations.

Train services resumed at 7.13pm.

SMRT added that in all, about 15,000 passengers were affected during the incident.

Passengers who could not complete their journeys due to the disruption can claim a full fare refund.

They can do so at the Passenger Service Centre in any of the 51 SMRT stations within the next three working days.

SMRT is investigating the cause of the incident.

- CNA/yb

fatz

Cab driver faces jail for causing death in rash act
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 November 2007 2026 hrs
   
         
SINGAPORE: A cab driver has been found guilty of causing a man's death by a rash act.

The court heard that in April this year, cab driver Lee Yuet Kong had flung financial advisor Alex Lim off the bonnet of his cab, causing him to hit his head.

The accident happened after both men were involved in a minor collision. The men then pulled over along Scotts Road in front of Shaw House where an argument took place.

In their heated discussion, Lee, who had a passenger in his car, refused to divulge his details and instead, tried to drive off.

Mr Lim, who wanted Lee's particulars, stood in front of the cab to stop him. Despite that, Lee continued to drive on, throwing Mr Lim onto the bonnet of his cab.

Lee then accelerated before braking abruptly, flinging Mr Lim off. Mr Lim fell backwards onto the road and hit his head on the curb.

The impact caused Mr Lim to slip into a coma and he died in hospital a month later.

Lee now faces a maximum jail term of two years, or a maximum S$1,000 fine, or both.

Sentencing has been adjourned until December 3rd for Lee's defence lawyer to prepare for mitigation.

- CNA/yb

fatz

       
Bus, MRT and Chinese restaurant among S'pore's noisiest locations: Survey
By Alicia Wong, TODAY | Posted: 27 November 2007 1130 hrs

SINGAPORE: Taking a bus, getting on the MRT or having dinner in a Chinese restaurant - everyday activities that we hardly think twice about. Yet they may cause damage to your hearing, according to the results of a Reader's Digest test released on Monday.

In its June test, Reader's Digest measured the sound levels in public spaces in four Asian cities for five minutes at a time, using a certified sound level meter.

The magazine visited places such as shopping malls, restaurants, train stations and streets in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

The results were staggering.

Nearly all locations, tested mostly during office hours, registered sound levels above 70 decibels. The World Health Organisation (WHO) considers this as the threshold beyond which hearing may be damaged if a person is continuously exposed to the noise.

Someone speaking in his normal voice would register about 50 decibels, while music played loudly would typically reach 80 decibels.

In some cases, the sound from the headphones of a music player can reach a deafening 120 decibels and cause physical pain, according to the magazine.

Dr Lynne Lim, a consultant at the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck at the National University Hospital, said high noise levels could lead to "permanent hearing loss, ringing sound in the ears, stress and difficulty concentrating and resting."

She said noise levels at 85 decibels would be dangerous if a person is exposed to them continuously for eight hours, while "permanent hearing loss can happen after 15 minutes" of noise at 115 decibels.

People also need to be aware that different loudness levels affect people differently, and young children and people with illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension are more susceptible, she said.

In Singapore, the Reader's Digest team found that the average sound level was 80.5 decibels on the MRT from Paya Lebar to City Hall and 81.3 decibels on a bus in Orchard Road.

This is markedly higher than the 60 to 65 decibels in a typical office here, as stated on the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website.

The average sound level inside a Chinese restaurant here was 76.7 decibels, but it peaked for three seconds at 109.5 decibels. "At 110 decibels, that's like standing next to a jet engine," according to Mr Jim Plouffe, editor-in-chief of Reader's Digest Asia.

An NEA spokesperson told Today that the results of the Reader's Digest test "would not be conclusive" since it measured noise levels for only short periods of time. The WHO recommends that the measurements be taken over 24 hours.

"In Singapore, there are control measures put in place to protect the public from being exposure to excessive noise.

For example, the NEA regulates noise from factory premises and construction sites. It is also built into the licensing conditions of public entertainment outlets that licencees must abide by noise control regulations, the NEA said.

Frequent MRT commuter Jason Chia, 38, told Today he felt the noise on the MRT was "quite okay", while 53-year-old Shok Lin said the noise levels "could be lower". Diners Polly Poon, 47, and Marcus Ong, 15, said noise levels were "okay" at their food outlets.

But this does not mean our ears are safe.

We may have gotten used to the noise, but "our bodies are reacting to the situation as though we are being attacked", Mr Plouffe said. "Noise pollution is like an infection you are constantly battling

fatz

Cabbies feel pinch, seek fare hike
Posted: 03 December 2007 0836 hrs



SINGAPORE : The pressure is growing on taxi companies to raise taximeter fares as cab drivers complain of rising operational costs.
The Taxi Operators

fatz

Dec 4, 2007         
Taxi fares likely to go up soon
Flag-down fare may hit $2.80, and the meter will jump faster, sources say
By Christopher Tan & Tracy Sua


TAXI drivers want it and their associations have asked for it, so all that remains is for the biggest taxi operator ComfortDelGro to go ahead and do it - raise taxi fares that is.

All the signs point to it happening, and soon. A year after the last increase, which saw the flag-down rate go up by 10 cents to at least $2.50 and peak period surcharge double to $2, sources say a bigger jump is imminent.

The flag-down fare is expected to rise by 30 cents, bringing the minimum starting fare to $2.80.

Newer taxis such as the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magentis charge 20 cents more, so their flag-down rate should hit $3, The Straits Times understands.

Distance and time-based rates are also expected to change. Currently, the meter advances by 10 cents every 210m or every 25 seconds of waiting. After 10km, it jumps 10 cents every 175m.

Industry observers expect leading operator ComfortDelGro to make the first move this month, but the company has remained mum about its plans.

'Fare adjustment is a commercially sensitive topic, so we cannot comment on it,' ComfortDelGro spokesman Tammy Tan said.

For the past three weeks or so, the company - which has a fleet of 15,000 taxis - has been sending its cabs to have their meters adjusted.

Ms Tan said this was mainly to update the meters for next year's public holiday slots. There is a $1 surcharge for public holidays.

But The Straits Times understands the tweaks - taking around 20 minutes per cab - also include adding a chip to allow the metered fare structure to be adjusted wirelessly.

Taxi drivers have been calling for a fare hike for several weeks now, citing the higher cost of fuel and the two percentage point rise in the goods and services tax, which has raised their rental rate by an average of $50 a month.

Diesel at the pumps, after a discount, has risen by around 20 per cent since the last cab fare increase in July last year, raising fuel cost per cab by around $300 each month.

Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong, an adviser to the taxi operators' associations, said taxi fares should be pegged to the cost cabbies bear. He told The Straits Times two weeks ago that the taxi operators' associations have been lobbying for a fare rise.

'Although taxi drivers are always worried about losing business if fares go up too high...they still hope there would be a fare increase,' Mr Seng said.

Some quarters have called for fares to rise substantially to manage demand, so that commuters who need a cab will find it easier to get one.

Cabby Chew Lian Sheng, 37, said that is the 'only way to manage demand', since taxi companies are unable to put more taxis on the road because there are not enough drivers around.

Mr Chew said the flag-down fare should be between $7 and $10. 'There'd be a public outcry. But cabbies can earn a living with fewer trips.'

Mr Chew is also of the view that surcharges must be removed or at least, simplified, as they 'create an artificial market'.

Cabby Manjeet Singh, 62, said the flag-down fare should be $6 or $7. 'It's pathetic now,' he said. 'We should also abolish the surcharges - they are very confusing.'

Transport researcher and National University of Singapore lecturer Lee Der-Horng said simply raising fares would not solve all taxi woes. He said a 'package solution' was needed.

This includes having Electronic Road Pricing subsidies to encourage cabbies to go into the Central Business District; more designated taxi stands in the city centre; and simplifying surcharges.

Associate Professor Lee also suggested having 'a centralised call booking system...This way, passengers will just need to dial one number to get access to the pool of taxis from all taxi companies',

He said doing away with all surcharges may not be the answer. For instance, how can cabbies be encouraged to ply the 'graveyard shift' otherwise?

Nevertheless, he reckons the imbalance between demand and supply 'cannot be fully resolved'.

SweetCandy

fatz.. almost taxi-drivers dah complain pasal kenaikkan of the fares..aiya

fatz

biasa la SC...rata2 kata tak untung la...susah cari makan la..

tapi kalau dah kat kedai kopi...sejam pun tak gerak2 lagi

pulak tu, ada yg kul 11 lebih malam jer dorang start main semunyik2.....

fatz

Customers, cabbies voice concerns over likely cab fare hike
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 December 2007 2050 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's biggest taxi operator ComfortDelGro has announced that it will raise its fares, likely from 18 December.

Many in the industry see it as a move to help taxi drivers manage rising overhead costs.

But most customers are not quite convinced. Even some taxi drivers are not too pleased with the hike.

Industry players said ComfortDelGro's decision is not unexpected, given rising fuel prices and the recent increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In fact, some taxi operators, like Premier, said that fares should have been raised six months ago.

ComfortDelGro has remained tight-lipped on details, but many believe that the flag-down rate will be raised by at least 30 cents. ComfortDelGro said it "doesn't comment on price increases".

But comment on price increase is what many people want to do.

"I can accept it if they raise prices by 10 cents, but not beyond that. I feel that as customers we are already paying a lot of fees, like CBD and peak hour charges. It (the taxi fare) is just too high," said a member of the public.

"I do sympathise, but we customers also feel the brunt of transportation prices going up; everything has gone up," said another.

"I just feel there should be a longer time for the public to give some sort of feedback. Two weeks and before Christmas, (when the fare will rise), is really short. There's nothing much we can do about it," said a third.

Others think that what they can do is to simply go for alternatives, and that's the main concern of some taxi drivers.

"The fare goes up, a lot of people don't take taxi... No passenger!"
said a cabby.

"Fuel prices are high now. If fares increase, it's enough to cover our costs, but for the customer, it might be a little difficult," said another taxi driver.

For these taxi drivers, they would rather have lower rental fees to help them manage rising overhead costs.

Smaller cab companies tell Channel NewsAsia that they are likely to follow the new fare rates to be published by ComfortDelGro, the market leader.

Bigger operators, like SMRT, say that they are still "looking into the matter". - CNA/ir

fatz

ComfortDelGro overhauls taxi fare structure
Posted: 10 December 2007 1854 hrs

SINGAPORE: ComfortDelGro, the largest operator of taxis in Singapore, has overhauled its fare structure which it says will better meet the demand for and supply of taxi services at different times of the day.

The changes will kick in next Monday.

Flagging down a Comfort or CityCab will cost $0.30 more at $2.80.

The metered fare has also been adjusted.

It will cost $0.20 per 385 metres of travel for the first 10 kilometres.

This will go up to $0.20 per 330 metres for journeys beyond 10 kilometres.

It will cost $0.20 for every 45 seconds of waiting time.

Instead of the $2 surcharge for peak hour travel, there will now be a premium levied.

It will be 35 per cent of the metered fare.

And the CBD surcharge will go up by $2 to $3.

For travel from midnight till just before 6am, instead of the gradual buildup in surcharge, it will be simplified to a flat 50 per cent on the metered fare.

However, the booking fee during peak hours will be reduced by $0.50 to $3.50.

The booking fee remains at $2.50 for non-peak hours.

As an example, ComfortDelGro says a 9 kilometre trip off-peak will cost $8.40 while a trip of the same distance during peak hours will cost $14.35.

This is comparable to what the same trip would cost in Hong Kong and still only half of what it would cost in Sydney.

In a news release, ComfortDelGro says the fare changes are the result of an in depth review of the industry by the Group, which took into account suggestions and feedback from the public.

The changes also took into account feedback from taxi associations, taking into consideration the higher operating costs of taxis.

Also, it addressed commuters' concern on the difficulty in getting a cab in the city in the evening while encouraging call bookings to better match the demand and supply of taxis.

The Taxi Operators Associations or TOA, in its response, called the fare revision fair and timely.

This is in view of the rapidly rising operating cost, especially the price of diesel and the increase in the Goods and Services Tax.

It believes that overall taxi metre fare should reflect the operating cost of the taxi business, and the primary consideration is the income stability of the taxi drivers when fare adjustments are made.

TOA urges the other taxi companies to adjust their taxi fares as soon as possible. - 938LIVE.

fatz

Summary of Fare Adjustments

Basic Fare

Current
Flag Down: $2.50 for 1st km*
1km to 10km: $0.1 for every 210m
Above 10km: $0.1 for every 175m
Waiting time: $0.1 for every 25sec

Revised

Flag Down: $2.80 for 1st km*
1km to 10km: $0.2 for every 385m
Above 10km: $0.2 for every 330m
Waiting time: $0.2 for every 45sec

Peak Period Premium

Current

$2 flat rate
Mon-Fri, 7:00am-9:30am
Mon-Sat, 5:00pm-8:00pm
(not applicable on Public Holidays)

Revised

35% of metered fare
Mon-Fri, 7:00am-9:30am
Mon-Sat, 5:00pm-8:00pm
(not applicable on Public Holidays)

City Area Surcharge

Current

$1
Mon-Thu, 5pm-8pm
Fri & Sat, 5pm-11:30pm

Revised

$3
----------
Mon-Sat, 5pm-midnight

Late Night Surcharge

Current

11:30pm-11:44pm 10%
11:45pm-11:59pm 20%
12:00am-12:59am 35%
01:00am-05:59am 50%

Revised

Midnight-05:59am 50% of metered fare

Current Booking Fee

Current

Prime Time: $4
Mon-Fri
7:00am-9:30am
5:00pm-11:00pm
Non-Prime Time : $2.50
All other times including Sat, Sun & Public Holiday

Revised

Prime Time: $3.50
Mon-Fri
7:00am-9:30am
5:00pm-11:00pm
Non-Prime Time : $2.50
All other times including Sat, Sun & Public Holiday

* For Toyota Crowns and Nissan Cedrics

fatz

         
Cabbie who caused death of financial advisor gets a year's jail
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 January 2008 1817 hrs



SINGAPORE: The taxi driver, who caused the death of a financial advisor along Scotts Road in April 2007, has been sentenced to 12 months' jail.

68-year-old Lee Yuet Kong had earlier been found guilty of causing the death of 29-year-old Alex Lim by a rash act.

The court heard that on 9 April, Lee and Lim were involved in a minor accident and both had stopped along Scotts Road in front of Isetan.

During their heated argument, Lee refused to divulge his details. So Lim stood in front of Lee's cab to stop him from leaving the scene.

But Lee braked suddenly and then drove into Lim, who was clinging onto the cab's bonnet. Lim was knocked unconscious and went into a coma. He died in hospital a month later.

Lee could have been jailed for up to two years.

His lawyer had told the court that Lee is suffering from various medical conditions including nasopharyngeal cancer.

Lee is also said to have a "history of heart failure" and is "waiting for open-heart surgery". - CNA/vm

fatz

Up to 1,800 items found on SMRT trains last year

By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 January 2008 1814 hrs


SINGAPORE: The SMRT said that between 100 and 150 items are left behind on the trains by commuters every month. Last year, the total number of items amounted to 1,800.

Some of the items left behind by absent-minded commuters were spectacles, model aeroplanes, fishing rods, baby prams and even an engagement ring.

There were also odd items such as luggage carriers, rice cookers and dirty workmen's boots.

The SMRT said such items usually go unclaimed for days and even months, and the train operator suspected that not all the stuff were left behind accidentally.

Some passengers may have used the trains and its stations as a dumping ground because many of the items found were old and broken.

Besides the trains, some of the items were also left on its platforms.

All the items found are brought to the Passenger Service Centre, where they will be kept for three days. Within that period, passengers can go to the centre to claim their lost property.

Unclaimed belongings will be transferred to the Lost Property Office at the Marina Bay Station for three months before they are auctioned off to SMRT staff.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the SMRT's adopted charities.

888888888888

sesiapa yg ada tertinggal periuk nasik tu....cepat2 la pegi claim...

fatz

SMRT Taxi Operators Association waiting for members' feedback on cab fare hikes

Posted: 05 January 2008 1818 hrs

SINGAPORE: The SMRT Taxi Operators Association says it is waiting for feedback from its members first before deciding if and when to bring up the issue of the recent fare hikes within the association.

Some taxi drivers and most commuters have been unhappy with the higher cab fares, which were introduced last month.

Abdul Halid Zumat has been driving a taxi for three years.

He used to earn around $200 in each shift, but that has dropped by about $50, as he has fewer passengers since taxi fares were raised in December.

So Mr Abdul Halid has come up with an idea, which he believes will benefit both commuters and cab drivers.

His suggestion - change the flag-down rate.

"From $2.50, make it $3.50 - one-dollar (increase) and the rest, status quo. Don't have the 35%. This 35%, the public doesn't know, really. They thought that the increase hits their pocket," said Mr Abdul Halid, referring to the 35% of the metered fare levied for peak hour travel.

Like Mr Abdul Halid, some taxi drivers would like a meeting with the Taxi Operators' Association (TOA), which represents the six taxi operators in Singapore.

The main agenda - to assess if the current fare structure is the best for the drivers.

Meanwhile, SMART Cab Operators' Association says it has not received any feedback on the call for a return to the old $2 peak period surcharge.

Its president, Chia Hock Peng, said that if it does get such a feedback, the association will forward it to its executive secretary Chan Meng Dong and Seng Han Tong, its adviser and MP for Yio Chu Kang.

As for Singapore's largest taxi operator, ComfortDelGro, it has not revealed if it too is planning to meet its own Comfort Taxi Operators' Association about the recent rise in taxi fares.

The TOA says in an email that it is still monitoring the situation, adding that it wants to give the new fare hikes some time before reaching any conclusions. - CNA/ir

SweetCandy

Yup.. i agree. skrg org takut dgn kenaikkan tambang taksi yg mendadak..

fatz

        LTA says demand for taxis should be allowed to stabilise
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 11 January 2008 2234 hrs

SINGAPORE : The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has said that demand for taxi services is dynamic and sensitive to pricing.

So this demand needs some time to stabilise, following the fare revisions which kicked in last month.

Only then will LTA gauge its impact and effectiveness.

LTA added that it is monitoring the taxi situation closely.

A taxi driver who wants to be known only as Mr Lim said he gets about 10 passengers in five hours, in one evening.

However, between the peak period of 5pm and 8pm, he would only pick up three passengers.

Mr Lim claims he used to earn S$15 an hour, before taxi fares were raised last month. But he now earns about S$10.

So that means that he has to drive for 12 hours to pay for his rental and diesel fees which amount to about S$120 a day.

SMRT said it is still monitoring the situation and cannot give an average earning of its taxi drivers.

Transcab said it has computer problems and cannot provide a figure.

It also added that it is too early to conclude the effects of the recent fare hikes.

As for Singapore's largest taxi operator, ComfortDelGro, it said the average driver is taking about S$9 more a day or S$270 more a month.

However, ComfortDelgro cautioned that this is based only on the first week since the new fares were implemented.

It said its figures are very preliminary.

As for commuters, not everyone is clear about how much more they have to pay, and why.

One commuter said, "No, definitely not clear."

When asked why the commuter said, "It's after a while...it took several taxi drivers to explain it to me."

Another said, "I know that it has increased a lot because I take taxis quite frequently....I only have a brief idea that if I actually (take) a taxi in the city area, I need to pay S$3 more and even a 35 percent surcharge."

However one commuter noted, "(I am) rather clear (about the new fares) because I take a taxi almost everyday. But I will avoid taking taxis during peak hours."

On the recent concern that Comfort taxi drivers were still displaying the old fares, the company has printed a reply in a newspaper.

The corporate communications department said there was a delay in printing but now all of its taxis are displaying the new decals. - CNA/ms

fatz

Transport minister announces major changes in land transport
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 January 2008 1248 hrs

SINGAPORE: Major changes are expected in land transport after a more than year-long review to improve the situation.

In the first three major announcements, Transport Minister Raymond Lim zoomed in on changes to the bus system, which serves two-thirds of all commuter trips today.

Speaking at the opening of the Land Transport Gallery, he outlined the urgency of the problem, stressing that with trips poised to increase 60 per cent between now and 2020, the only option is to steer people towards taking more public transport.

For that to happen, Mr Lim said, not just the quantity, but also the quality of public transport would have to improve tremendously.

Currently, the system is fragmented between two operators - SBS and SMRT - which plan the routes based on commercial considerations and minimum service obligations.

So firstly, the LTA will take over the central planning of the bus network, with the commuters' ease of journey as the main focus.

Buses will also get more priority on the roads with more full-day bus lanes, and making it mandatory for cars to give way to buses at bus bays.

More integrated public transport hubs, like the ones at Toa Payoh, Sengkang and Ang Mo Kio, will be upgraded to make transfers easier. Five more will be upgraded and two more are already being upgraded.

And more travel information will be made available via panels, text messages and websites.

The second big change will be to introduce competition among operators, including opening the market to new players.

The island will be carved up into different regions and potential operators will bid for these in a competitive tender.

The third major change is for the LTA to keep its pulse on the community's transport issues through regular dialogue with grassroots members.

More changes, including those to the ERP system, are expected in the following weeks. - CNA/ac/vm

fatz

Commuters comment on implementation process of transport review
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 January 2008 1


SINGAPORE: The transport review seems to put the commuter at the centre of it all. But are the changes really addressing the commuter's concerns?

On average, Michelle Ling, a bus commuter makes about three trips each day, taking a total of about two hours, excluding the waiting time.

On Friday, her bus arrived in just under 15 minutes. But the waiting time is not the only concern.

Another commuter, Alexis Peter said: "Mainly the crowd, and I hate squeezing and hate to share with people who smell."

Meanwhile, Angela Loh, a bus commuter, shared what she thought should be looked into: "At times, 2 buses (may come) together instead of at (the) right intervals, so I think they have to improve on that."

Improvements will come in the form of what's called Bus Priority measures which will help speed up buses on the roads and enhance reliability.

Among them is expanding the network of bus lanes by 30 to 150 kilometres.

Full-day bus lanes will also be increased by three times - from 7.6 to 23 kilometres. They will be extended to Robinson Road, Serangoon Road and Jalan Besar Road amongst others.

These measures will be in place by June.

However, buses may still be impeded by left-turning vehicles at traffic light junctions, so the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will pilot a new scheme by the end of 2008.

Traffic lights will be installed at some junctions and these will give buses the right of way, over other vehicles turning left. Furthermore, motorists may only turn once the buses have been signalled to stop.

A rule that makes it mandatory for motorists to give way to buses exiting from bus bays will also kick in at the end of 2008. Surveys showed that this could help cut travelling times by about nine per cent.

But some were wondering how it can be enforced and whether it would compromise other road users.

One commuter, Ann Tay, said: "It will help the commuters, but then the motorists will complain on the other hand because it causes jam over that side, so in the end, who would benefit?"

What most commuters found beneficial are air-conditioned public transport hubs like the one at Toa Payoh - where the bus terminal is integrated with the train station and shopping mall.

More hubs will be built at Bedok, Jurong East, Serangoon, Joo Koon and Marina South over the next 10 years.

Currently there are already three such hubs at Ang Mo Kio, Sengkang and Toa Payoh and two more are being upgraded at Boon Lay and Clementi.

Many commuters are also in favour of more real-time bus arrival information panels.

30 of them have been put up at bus stops in the business district, Yishun and Ang Mo Kio and another 20 will be installed by May.

In July, the LTA will try using SMS to provide arrival times to commuters.

Also in the pipeline is an integrated public transport journey planner that would enable commuters to get travel information for both SBS Transit and SMRT services, via internet or the phone. - CNA/vm

fatz

7 more public transport hubs to be built
By Jeremy Au Yong

AFTER getting rave reviews from residents about Ang Mo Kio Hub - which integrates a bus interchange and MRT station - the Government plans to put up seven more in the next decade.

Work has already started on two, in Boon Lay and Clementi, with the others earmarked for Bedok, Jurong East, Serangoon, Joo Koon and Marina South.

Plans for these hubs were announced by Transport Minister Raymond Lim on Friday, together with a package of measures to improve service standards of buses.

Citing Ang Mo Kio Hub as an example, Mr Lim said: 'Residents have told us they liked the air-conditioned bus interchange where they can pop into shops at the passenger concourse before their bus arrived.'

'Other like the convenience of the underground linkway to Ang Mo Kio MRT station. These attributes have helped increase public transport ridership at this hub. We will therefore embark on a programme to build more integrated public transport hubs as well as upgrade existing bus interchanges.'

The Ang Mo Kio building is the most recent of the three existing hubs. The other two are in Toa Payoh and Sengkang.

Once the hubs are completed, Jurong residents will have three nearby: Clementi, Jurong East and Boon Lay.

Buildings aside, residents can also expect higher standards and better coordinated public transport system now that the Land Transport Authority intends to take over all route planning for buses.

At present, LTA takes charge of only the train and road network, and leaves the bus planning to the operators. With everything under LTA's purview by next year, Mr Lim said it would be able to 'optimise the performance of the entire land transport system for commuters' benefit'.

Planners are aiming to achieve at least 80 per cent of buses at peak frequencies of 10 minutes or less by August next year, compared with 15 minutes today.

By 2015, they want 80 per cent of commuters on public transport to complete their trips in under an hour, up from 71 per cent today.

Finally, by 2020, they aim to make trips on public transport take no longer 11/2 times that of a private car. Currently, it is 1.7 times longer.

Mr Lim stressed the big improvements planned for buses were crucial.

'If we allow the bus to become the poor cousin of the train, the system as a whole suffers and commuters suffer,' he said.

fatz

LTA opens new S$2m gallery showcasing land transport progress
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 January 2008 2114 hrs


   

SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has just opened a new S$2 million gallery showcasing the past, present and future.

It starts with a look at Singapore's land transport progress from 1945 to today.

Interactive exhibits bring visitors from one era to another while the Challenge Theatre invites audience participation.

The gallery at LTA's premises on Hampshire Road has five permanent interactive exhibitions to engage and inform visitors about the challenges in land transport planning.

Entry to the gallery is free.

It will be open to the general public starting 21 January. The opening hours are Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

For more information, call 6396-2550 or email [email protected]. - CNA/ac

gadis_aries

kelakarnya...rice cooker?