More Friendly Streets, New Commuter Infrastructure
and Road Repurposing Projects in The Pipeline
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will step up efforts to facilitate Walk, Cycle, Ride journeys. First, LTA will expand its Friendly Streets initiative to more towns. Second, LTA will improve first-and-last-mile connectivity with more commuter infrastructure. These two initiatives, which are also in support of Age Well SG, will receive additional funding of around $1 billion over the next decade. LTA will additionally fund two new road repurposing projects to prioritise road space for pedestrians and cyclists. These enhancements aim to create safer, more inclusive public spaces, and encourage active and sustainable modes of transport.
Expanding Friendly Streets
2. Located at areas with high pedestrian flow and close to key amenities, Friendly Streets was announced in the Ministry of Transport’s Committee of Supply debate in 2023. This initiative started with five pilot locations[1] and aims to make walking and cycling commutes within neighbourhoods safer, more inclusive and comfortable. LTA has started works at Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok West and Tampines, and works for the remaining pilot locations will commence in the coming months.
3. Encouraged by the strong community support for the five pilots, LTA will expand the Friendly Streets initiative to all HDB towns by 2030, as well as to private estates with high-activity areas and key amenities nearby. The next batch of the Friendly Streets will cover ten more towns, in the following locations – Bedok, Buangkok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Holland/Buona Vista, Jurong East, Pek Kio, Punggol, Sembawang and Tiong Bahru/Havelock.
4. LTA will start engaging the community and relevant stakeholders in these towns later this year, to determine the specific locations and Friendly Streets features to be implemented.
Enhancing First-and-Last-Mile Connectivity
5. LTA will enhance our commuter infrastructure which are aimed at improving barrier-free access and making walking to key public transport nodes more convenient and comfortable. These enhancements provide residents, especially seniors, with improved access to amenities and public transport nodes, and encourage them to lead more active lifestyles and stay socially connected.
6. Planned commuter infrastructure enhancements over the next decade include:
a. Upgrading and implementing senior-friendly features at more bus stops - such as additional seats with arm and back rests, as well as ensuring wheelchair accessibility.
b. Building more covered linkways to connect MRT stations to more Friendly Streets and some key amenities nearby that are largely within an 800-metre radius for more comfortable and convenient walking experiences.
c. Retrofitting more pedestrian overhead bridges with lifts to provide barrier-free access, especially those near public transport nodes and healthcare institutions.
7. We have been retrofitting lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges since 2013. Currently there are 87 existing pedestrian overhead bridges with lifts. This effort is prioritised for locations that are expected to benefit a high number of seniors and commuters with mobility challenges, such as pedestrian overhead bridges near public transport nodes and healthcare institutions.
8. More details about specific locations and measures to be implemented will be finalised subsequently.
Implementing new road repurposing projects at Zion Road and Sims Place
9. Road repurposing will continue to enhance the Walk, Cycle, Ride experience and facilitate smoother connections between surrounding amenities. Last year, LTA announced plans to pedestrianise an 80-metre-long stretch of the road along Choa Chu Kang Terrace and an 18-metre-long stretch at Yung Sheng Road. Works are ongoing at these locations and slated for completion by end 2024.
10. This year, LTA will embark on two more road repurposing projects at Zion Road and Sims Place.
a. LTA will repurpose up to two of the five to six road lanes along Zion Road (around 700m, between River Valley Road and Ganges Avenue). The repurposed space will feature a widened footpath and a new cycling path to connect Zion Road to the Alexandra Park Connector. It will also enable us to expand the existing bus shelter opposite Great World City as well as provide sheltered connectivity for commuters to Zion Riverside Food Centre.
b. At Sims Place, LTA plans to repurpose a 300m road stretch fronting Sims Vista Market and Food Centre from four road lanes to two lanes, to enhance safety and convenience for the many pedestrians crossing Sims Place between Block 53 and Sims Vista Market and Food Centre. There will be space for a widened footpath and a new cycling path. LTA will also provide sheltered connectivity across Sims Place to facilitate residents’ journeys to the market and food centre.
11. These two projects are expected to commence later this year with completion slated for 2026.
Annex A: Upgraded bus stops
Annex B: Road repurposing works at Zion Road
Annex C: Road repurposing works at Sims Place
