TRANSPORT DILEMMA: CAR OR BUS?
TRAINS, TAXIS AND BUSES

A WHIFF of change in land transport policy is in the air.

The much awaited Land Transport Review, due next month, is still under wraps.

But officials, commentators and a Land Transport Authority (LTA) e-game provide indications of the problem areas and the possible solutions.

Overhaul: Hassle of bus and train transfers.

Options: Integrate bus and train services better. Shorten waiting time for feeder buses.

Publish timetable. Create one season pass for whole bus-and-rail network.

Overhaul: Crowded, slow public transport.

Options: Add premium buses. Raise bus frequency from 15 to 10 minutes. Extend bus-lane hours. More full-day bus lanes.

For the long term, Circle Line will add connections in 2010; build more MRT lines.

Overhaul: Cab availability during peak periods, and within the Central Business District.

Options: Price cab fares appropriately. Enhance public transport, so more people switch to buses and trains.

Overhaul: Empty cruising cabs.

Options: Convert to call bookings. Build more cab-stands. Charge a cruising tax - possibly with GPS-based ERP.

Overhaul: Travel barriers for rising elderly population

Options: Give elderly more time to cross roads, possibly with the aid of technology. More pedestrian-

friendly zones with low speed limits.

Barrier-free access in key sites. Overall, focus on human dimension.

To play with more options, and to role-play at being the Transport Minister, visit this LTA website:

www.transport2020.gov.sg