A land transport vision developed together with Singaporeans
The Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) Advisory Panel has submitted its recommendations to the Government on the vision, targets and strategies for LTMP 2040.
2 In formulating its recommendations, the Panel considered over 7,400 responses received through a public engagement exercise conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) over the past six months. This included feedback from commuters, transport workers, unions and associations, transport industry representatives, academics, businesses and interest groups. LTA published an overview of the consultation process and the responses received on 30 Jan 2019.
Key Recommendations
3 During the consultation process, commuters shared that they want a land transport system that is convenient, well-connected and fast, characterised by a commuter experience that is both gracious and inclusive, and which contributes to better health and safer journeys for all. To achieve this vision, the Panel has made recommendations in three key areas:
(i) 20-Minute Towns and a 45-Minute City
4 The Panel envisions a land transport system in 2040 where public, active and shared transport modes are so convenient that they have become the preferred choice for commuters, accounting for 9 in 10 of all peak-period journeys. These transport modes will be prioritised and connected seamlessly, supported by continued investment in the bus, rail and active mobility network, as well as innovative point-to-point mobility services. All journeys to the nearest neighbourhood centre will be completed in less than 20 minutes, and 9 in 10 of all peak-period journeys will be completed in less than 45 minutes, saving the average peak-period commuter about 15 minutes every weekday. Coupled with the development of new regional centres closer to homes, Singaporeans will be able to access live, work and play destinations more directly, conveniently and quickly.
(ii) Transport for All
5 The Panel heard many suggestions to make our land transport system more inclusive to meet the needs of all Singaporeans, including our seniors, persons with disabilities and families with young children. This must be a collective effort between commuters, transport operators and the Government. Many of the responses to the public engagement also acknowledged this. The Panel calls on commuters to play their part in fostering a gracious and caring commuting culture that makes journeys more pleasant and enjoyable for everyone. The Panel also envisions that more journeys to public sector infrastructure and public housing estates will be barrier-free by 2040, and calls on transport operators to equip our public transport workers with the right capabilities to meet the diverse needs of all commuters, including those with special and invisible needs.
(iii) Healthy Lives, Safer Journeys
6 The Panel acknowledged the important role our transport system can play in improving Singaporeans’ quality of life and creating a more liveable Singapore. To encourage Singaporeans to stay healthy and active, the Panel recommends providing more community spaces for walking, cycling and public transport. It also challenges the Government and Singaporeans to work towards a “Vision Zero” environment, where journeys are safer for all with fewer land transport-related fatalities. The Panel also urges the Government and industry players to switch to cleaner energy sources for all shared fleet vehicles, starting with public buses. This will help reduce air and noise pollution, and contribute to longer-term improvements in environmental sustainability and public health.
7 Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Transport & Communications and Information, and the Chair of the LTMP Advisory Panel said, “Our land transport system needs to transform to continue to support Singapore’s growth, and meet the evolving needs of our commuters. It will also need to contend with technological disruptions to the industry, demographic changes and land constraints. These are very real challenges - and we are grateful for the strong and diverse interest shown by Singaporeans in tackling them. The vision, targets and strategies we recommend were developed with Singaporeans’ feedback, and together, I am confident we will build a better land transport system for the future.”
8 An infographic summarising the LTMP Advisory Panel’s targets and strategies can be found in Annex A, and their detailed recommendations found in Annex B.