We thank Mr Andrew Ee Changshun for his letter “Managing public transport load requires coordinated planning across ministries” (Nov 14).
A good transport network is an integral part of a liveable city. Our transport network must get Singaporeans to where they live, study, work and play. To achieve this, transport planning is carried out as part of a larger, whole-of-government urban planning process.
Through Long-Term Plan and Master Plan reviews, LTA works closely with other infrastructure planning agencies, such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), to align land use and transport plans.
Besides ensuring that transport infrastructure supports demand at existing and new developments, we also work with other agencies to develop regional centres such as the Punggol Digital District and Jurong Lake District, business nodes and towns with a good range of amenities across Singapore. This ensures that jobs, schools and amenities are close to where people live. In turn, this reduces the need for longer trips, easing crowding on our roads, buses and trains.
Beyond urban planning, we have also introduced initiatives such as the Travel Smart Journeys programme, to incentivise commuters in the North East region to travel during off-peak hours. Government agencies also offer flexi-work arrangements, which include telecommuting and staggered working hours, where appropriate. This helps to reduce travel demand during peak hours, making journeys smoother and more comfortable for all.
Nevertheless, major transport infrastructure is among some of the most complex engineering projects undertaken by government. It can take some time for new capacity to be brought online and shift travel patterns. Unforeseen events like COVID-19 pandemic can also disrupt our plans. Therefore, besides managing the pace of rising demand and introducing additional travel options in tandem, we also implement demand management measures, such as free off-peak travel.
Sustainable solutions for infrastructure planning require continued inter-agency coordination to shape travel patterns. We will continue working closely with our partners as we develop the next Land Transport Masterplan.
Priscilla Chan
Group Director, Policy and Planning
Land Transport Authority
