November/December 2008
The Year in Review
Special Issue
From the release of the Land Transport Masterplan to extensive community outreach, 2008 was
a landmark year for LTA. Look inside to see the big picture!
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Within the space of less than a year, the Land Transport Masterplan (LTMP) has become our reference point for the projects and schemes we now roll out. We already refer to the “LTMP” day in and day out. The LTMP is more than a blueprint for our work – it has become the embodiment of what LTA is working towards in a big-picture kind of way: creating land transport that gives everyone here in Singapore access to a desirable way of life.
The Masterplan’s release was preceded by the Land Transport Review in 2007, when LTA met with many of our stakeholders to discuss concepts and ideas for the future of land transport. Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance Lim Hwee Hua spearheaded the focus group discussions on different topics that were the uniting thread of that review. The results of those discussions, the broader public feedback and the input of subject experts were all taken into account. The Review produced spirited public discussion about our needs and wants for the system.
Creating Our Land Transport Future
“Keeping Singapore a liveable city is a constant process of making trade-offs. Individual choices to drive or take public transport have an impact beyond the individual but on the community as a whole. Different groups have different interests. The Land Transport Masterplan is a reflection of a year-long effort of building consensus in our communities, through consultation with an extensive range of stakeholders as well as members of the public from all walks of life.”
Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim at the launch of the Land Transport Masterplan, 30 March 2008
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The release of the actual Masterplan document on 30 March was preceded by speeches by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim, each speech addressing one of LTA’s “strategic thrusts” that are the guiding principles of the Masterplan itself: Making Public Transport a Choice Mode; Managing Road Usage; and Meeting Diverse Needs. The three speeches fleshed out in practical terms how Singapore would be fashioning its transport future and especially, how the system will meet the many demands we will place on it.
“These goals are achievable and are essential to the long-term, overall success of Singapore and our economy. The Masterplan maps the road ahead for our land transport system and prioritises the work for LTA. Delivering the desired outcomes by 2020 will not be easy, but LTA’s board members, management and staff are fully committed to make every resource available to making a people-centred land transport system a reality.”
Michael Lim Choo San, Chairman, Land Transport Authority, from the Land Transport Masterplan
Now, the Masterplan reminds all of us of the goals we have set for ourselves and for Singapore.
Go to http://www.lta.gov.sg/ltmp/LTMP.html to view the Land Transport Masterplan, the policy speeches and the LTMP video.
3CHALLENGES
• Increasingtraveldemandandlimitedland
• Decliningpublictransportmodeshare
• Changingdemographicsandexpectations
3STRATEGICTHRUSTS
• Makingpublictransportachoicemode
• Managingroaduse• Meetingthediverse
needsofpeople
Creating Our Land Transport Future
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Achieving the vision set out in the Land Transport Masterplan will result from doubling the rail network, expanding the road system where possible, and implementing numerous initiatives that will make the transport system more accessible, easier to use and attractive to all users.
Rail is the backbone of the land transport system and its growth is integral to expanding the land transport network. In 2008, the Downtown Line (DTL) 1 broke ground in Chinatown. The Circle Line Marina Bay station—also announced—will be an interchange station connecting the Circle Line to the North South Line with an integrated entrance.
In addition to infrastructure, we also pay serious attention to the softer side of the equation: the journey experience. Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim regularly “walks the ground” too, to better understand the transport situation from the commuters’ point of view.
This map shows the complete rail network as of 2020.
Minister Raymond Lim with MOT and LTA staff at City Hall MRT station in mid-July 2008 during the evening peak period. In the same week, he surveyed conditions at the Jurong East and Bukit Batok MRT stations during the morning peak period.
Rail Expansion Proceeds Full Speed Ahead
In recent months, Minister Lim has visited Redhill, City Hall, Kallang, Bukit Batok and Jurong East stations. Minister also visited the new Joo Koon and Pioneer stations on the Boon Lay Extension (BLE) in October. These two stations are targeted to commence operations from 28 February 2009.
In January, Minister Raymond Lim visited Kim Chuan Depot as par t of h is announcements about the expansion of the MRT system. Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance Lim Hwee Hua (left), MP Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC) and MP Yeo Guat Kwang, (Aljunied GRC) joined him.
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Minister Raymond Lim announced to the public that the Boon Lay Extension would be operational as of 28 February 2009.
The Downtown Line 1 Chinatown Station broke ground in February. The 4.3km, fully underground DTL1 has six stations: Chinatown, Cross Street, Landmark, Bayfront, Promenade and Bugis. Construction for DTL1 will be completed by 2013. The construction team will face multiple challenges, not least the dense building environment. Contractors took a safety pledge at the groundbreaking ceremony, to reflect their commitment to uphold safe work sites and practices.
Rail Expansion Proceeds Full Speed Ahead
In July, Minister Raymond Lim visited Circle Line Stage 1 (CCL1) Esplanade Station, including the control panel room. The station will of fer access to nearby cultural and retail attractions.
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Work on the Woodsville Interchange broke ground in June and is expected to complete in 2011. This massive road project comprises three road tunnels and a flyover that will connect Serangoon, Bendemeer, Upper Serangoon and MacPherson Roads—key arteries connecting the northeast sector to the city.
Singapore is investing in its future with new roads. The largest underground expressway in Southeast Asia— the Kallang Paya Lebar Expressway—fully opened in September and has offered shorter trips and an alternate route to the city. Community events such as the Swing KPE! brought thousands of people to the tunnel for entertaining and educational visits. Widening of the CTE, along with the construction of an interchange at Woodsville (comprising three road tunnels and a flyover), rounded out major expansion works in the last year.
Road Projects Roll Out
Widening existing roads is an important element of managing road use. For example, LTA is widening the CTE in several phases. The first phase involves widening the stretch between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, from the existing dual 3-lane carriageway to a dual 4-lane carriageway. A new covered pedestrian overhead bridge with ramps and link-ways will be constructed as part of this work, which started in June and is slated for completion by end 2009. LTA will implement further widening and improvement works to the other sections of the CTE, to conclude in four continuous traffic lanes between the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and Yio Chu Kang Road by end 2011. As part of the improvement works, LTA will be looking at improving the existing connections to the CTE at Bukit Timah and PIE. The entire widening and improvement work of the CTE is targeted for completion by end 2011.
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The first contracts for the dual 5-lane, 5km Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) were awarded in October and work will begin in 2009. The MCE is a key element of the strategic island-wide road network to support the long-term growth of Singapore. The underground east-west transport link will run between the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), the East Coast Parkway (ECP) and the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), with direct connections to the Marina South and Straits View areas.
The MCE’s tota l rou te l eng th inc ludes a 3.6km road tunne l, two ventilation buildings and 13.1 hec ta res o f l and rec lamat ion.
Road Projects Roll Out
The MCE will cater to projected increased traffic volume generated in the Marina Bay area by such developments such as the Marina Barrage, the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, Sail @ Marina Bay and the Marina Bay Financial Centre.
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Meeting Diverse Needs
Thirty-one new motorcycle rain shelters were added under vehicular flyovers along expressways island-wide, doubling the total number from the current 29 to 60. Rain shelters benefit motorcyclists by providing refuge for them during inclement weather. The 60 shelters can accommodate some 1,000 motorcycles at any one time.
Geoffrey Lim, Deputy Director Media Relations; Mike Tan, Senior Executive, Public Transport Security Planning & Standards (PTSP&S); Lena Lee, Assistant Manager, Application Services; Lin Min, Deputy Manager, PTSP&S; Tristan Sim, Deputy Director, PTSP&S; Chief Executive Yam Ah Mee; Stanley Chow, Executive Service Officer, PTSP&S; and Jasvinder Singh, Executive, PTSP&S.
The 6th National Security Seminar (NSS), organised by the National Security Coordination Committee Centre (NSCC), featured various security efforts from seven different Inter Ministry Committees (IMCs). More than 300 senior managers from ministries, statutory boards and agencies took part in the event to highlight the inter-ministry/multi-agency efforts to address the complex threat of global terrorism. A key participating IMC was the Public Transport Security Committee (PTSC), which showcased the security initiatives it has implemented since it was formed in April 2004. The PTSC is chaired by LTA’s CE to undertake a comprehensive review of security arrangements as well as recommend and oversee improvements to the security of the public transport system.
Motorcycle Protection Expanded
Keeping Land Transport Secure
LTA gave a sneak peak of its new youth website o n p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t security which is to be launched in early 2009.
Two new projects are being introduced to further improve security for public transport users: a trial for an automated security bollards system for bus interchanges—one that can automatically detect and be deployed against potential vehicle bomb threats at bus interchanges; and a youth website on public transport security—targeted at secondary school students to raise their awareness on public transport security. Stay tuned for the website address!
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Meeting Diverse Needs
Five years ago, LTA demonstrated a very visual commitment to making public transport journeys more pleasant when it established its “Art in Transit” programme, integrating art into MRT station surfaces. The aim? To bring public art into very public spaces. The stations and platforms of our rail network are an ideal palette to inspire and provide enjoyment to commuter audiences. The NEL Art in Transit works tie closely to the history and culture of the stations they occupy, giving viewers a stronger sense of belonging.
To re-ignite public awareness and enjoyment of the Art in Transit programme, LTA has partnered with Art Outreach, to conduct regular tours of the work.
Art Outreach has long championed the NEL work through its classroom portfolios and is a natural partner to conduct the tours. For more information about the Art in Transit Walking Tours, call 6873 9505 or email [email protected].
Reaching Out to the Community
Art in Transit for the Journey Experience
Getting in touch with the grassroots to identify areas of concern and to consult their constituencies prior to the implementation of any programme has been an important endeavour in 2008. The launch of the Community Outreach Programme and the Community Partnership Network team has made sure that citizens are heard.
Art Outreach Chairperson Mae Anderson told the inaugural tour group: “Singapore enjoys clear measures of success through various economic indicators, but it is through art that we tell people who we are.”
Integrated art invites the public to not only look but touch, to get a better feel for the materials and ideas behind the art.
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LTA Reaching Out:
Globally, Nationally, Locally
The LTA Academy officially threw open its doors on 4 November to introduce its new facilities to convene and host the inaugural World Urban Transport Leaders Summit.
Since its launch in September 2006, the LTA Academy has developed, conducted and hosted programmes for more than 5,000 senior officials and professionals from 80 countries across the globe. Over 150 professional courses, international conferences and workshops, and study visits for overseas delegates, as well as seminars for local professionals and LTA staff, were held.
The inaugural World Urban Transpor t Leaders Summit saw more than 100 invited senior officials
and professionals from 30 countries take part in the three-day conference. The Summit served as a p lat form for sen ior government of f ic ia ls, leading professionals and academics to discuss and exchange views on urban transport policies and strategies. Under the theme of “Transforming Urban Transport for Liveability and Sustainability”, the Summit programme addressed the key areas of governance, sustainable transport, transforming publ ic t ranspor t, managing congest ion, and strategies for emerging cities.
Through such activities, the LTA aims to share our experience and knowledge with other world transport leaders and plays a part in contributing towards the improvement of urban transport.
LTA’s International Advisory Panel (IAP) concluded its second meeting, chaired by Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Raymond Lim, in November. The meeting focused on upcoming key initiatives under the Land Transport Masterplan, in particular central bus planning, enhancing contestability and enhancing the integration of various public transport modes. Minister Lim said, “We had a fruitful discussion. The IAP members offered an international perspective and other countries’ experiences in bus planning and competition for the bus and rail markets.”
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Pretty much everyone in Singapore comes into contact with LTA everyday. No matter how one gets around, there’s some aspect of what LTA does that touches each of us. This is also obvious in our community outreach efforts to schools, neighbourhoods and grassroots organisations.
But LTA’s work has dimensions beyond the obvious. For example, LTA co-operates with many other agencies on
everything from environmental to security issues. Land transport is an integral part of our national economy and tie-ups for research, training and innovation offer both immediate and long-term benefits.
LTA’s outlook is also international. Through MSI Global, the LTA Academy and various Memoranda of Cooperation (MOCs), LTA emphas ises the impor tance of knowledge-sharing.
During the Summit, LTA Academy signed four international MOCs with China’s Tsinghua University’s School of Civil Engineering; the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP, USA); global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP, UK); and the Institute of Urban Transport and Urban Mass Transit Company (IUTI and UMTC, India). LTA Academy will collaborate with these organisations in areas such as public transport policy and planning; rail transit development and systems; transport demand management; traffic and road management; vehicle licensing and standards; environmentally sustainable transport; and safety management processes.
LTA Chairman Michael Lim Choo San presented Minister Raymond Lim with LTA Academy’s inaugural professional journal, Journeys. Journeys examines current land transport issues in the areas of policy and planning, development and management of infrastructure, transport innovations and systems, and other topics of interest to transport professionals.
The first World Urban Transport Leaders Summit saw participation from around the globe.
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LTA Reaching Out: Globally, Nationally, Locally
LTA announced the Singapore Urban Transport Solution in November 2008 to establish Singapore as a centre for urban transport solutions that can be commercialised and exported through our partners. In addition, under this framework, LTA will collaborate with leading research and industry par tners for mutual benef its, using Singapore as a living laboratory and a model city for urban transport solutions. We aim to attract and nurture top talent from Singapore and around the world to develop a sustainable urban transport industry to support Singapore’s economic growth.
The key MOC partners include the Economic Deve lopment Board (EDB) and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), and
four industry partners – Cisco, IBM Singapore Pte Ltd (IBM), Singapore Technologies Electronics Limited (ST Electronics) and 3M Technologies (S) Pte Ltd (3M). Steria Asia Pte Ltd and Thales Security Asia Pte Ltd also signed MOCs in December.
The Group’s work will focus on four main clusters that address important aspects of transport systems needed to prepare the next generation for transport challenges and solutions not just in Singapore, but globally. The clusters also provide rich areas for research results that have global impact on technologies and standards. The four clusters are transpor t optimisation, transpor t te lematics, integrated user experience, and environment and energy.
Singapore Urban Transport Solution
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LTA Reaching Out: Globally, Nationally, Locally
Nothing quite tells the story behind building a subway line than seeing it for yourself. Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and Advisor to Pasir Ris West GROs and grassroots leaders visited Circle Line 4’s Botanic Garden Station (BTN) in November as part of LTA’s community engagement programme.
BTN Project Manager Patrick Sebastian briefed Advisor Teo on the different engineering challenges and the community engagement efforts by LTA with the surrounding stakeholders. The visit included a site walk at platform level and a ride into the tunnel to view our Tunnel Boring Machine and related equipment.
Advisor Teo and his grassroots leaders thanked LTA for the opportunity to visit the site. As he put it: “I’m very happy to make the visit. It’s important for all of us to see the work so we don’t think the lines just appear!” Ng Cher Pheng, PBM, Pasir Ris West CCC Chairman, added that he and his grassroots
The new 130m dua l car r iageway Tanjong Rhu Bridge was opened to traffic in November. The bridge crosses the Geylang River to link Tanjong Rhu Road with Stadium Crescent/Stadium Walk, as well as to the city via Nicoll Highway. Advisor to the Mountbatten Grassroots Organisations Lim Biow Chuan of f ic iated at a par ty for residents to celebrate the completion of the project.
Teo Chee Hean Visits CCL Botanic Gardens Station
leaders “were very appreciative that LTA organised the visit. I’m totally impressed; there’s nothing like being underneath the work site to see how hard the people are working. It helps us to explain to people in the community what is happening.”
New Tanjong Rhu Bridge Gives Cause for Celebration
Advisor Lim Biow Chuan rings the opening bell.
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LTA was one of five winners of the 2008 National Infocomm Awards. LTA bagged the public sector award for its Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS). ITS is now integrated under a single platform called i.transport, which improves co-ordination and management of traffic on Singapore’s roads.
Work-Life Excellence LTA has won the Ministry of Manpower’s biennial Work-Life Excellence Award for the second time. The Award recognises employers who are committed to helping their employees harmonise work and personal commitments through effective and innovative work-life initiatives. One of LTA’s winning strengths is our special focus on our mature colleagues whom we value for their experience, knowledge and skill sets. Our LTA story and the collection of success stories in the Work Life Excellence Journey can be found in the Work-Life Excellence Award 2008 book available at the LTA Library.
2008 National Infocomm
Awards
And Now…the Winner is…You!
Prince Michael International Road
Safety AwardsIn recognition of LTA’s strong occupational health and safety culture framework, the United Kingdom-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) honoured LTA with a Silver Award. The Silver Award recognises achievement of high levels of safety performance, underpinned by good management systems that deliver
consistent improvements.
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SHARE and Community ChestLTA has just been conferred the SHARE Gold Award and the Community Chest Special Events Gold Award for our LTA Cares Fund.
And Now…the Winner is…You!
Enhanced Service with GISThe Environmental Systems Research I n s t i t u t e ( ES R I ) g av e i t s “ S p e c i a l Achievement in GIS” award for outstanding use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies to LTA, the sole winner from Singapore this year.
LTA’s GIS solutions enable knowledge-sharing across business units and for the public, which boosts LTA’s ability to plan, collaborate and manage its roads, traffic, regulatory function, and civil works more effectively and efficiently. LTA uses GIS to enhance its services, from submitting road work permits and monitoring geotechnical instrumentations at construction sites to accessing real-time traffic conditions via an online portal.
PS21 Awards for LTA Staff The Public Service for the 21st Century (PS21) awarded LTA individuals and teams for outstanding work at the PS21 ExCEL Convention in November. Margarita Loh (centre), Deputy Director, Community Partnership Network, was named the Gold Award Winner as an Outstanding Activist and two Work Improvement Teams (WITS) received Certificates of Recognition. Representing their WITS teams were Lim Chee Boon (left), Senior Project Manager (MCE), and Silvia Halim (right), Executive Engineer Road Projects (Woodsville).
2008 Innovation Excellence
AwardThe 2008 Innovation E x c e l l e n c e A w a r d was given to LTA to recognise a wide array of innovative products
and processes.
Connect is a bi-monthly newsletter of the Land Transport Authority. All rights reserved. © 2008 Please contact Connect Editor regarding permission to reproduce any material within ([email protected]). ISSN:1793-4931Editor: Katherine Ann Krummert, Corporate Communications Group • Photographer: Gabriel Tan
Ending the Year on a High Note
The theme for LTA’s annual employee dinner and dance in October was “Fast & Furious”—fitting since the event was hot on the heels of Formula One. But fast and furious is also an apt description of our pace at LTA. This issue gives a sampling of the highlights of our projects and achievements in the past year.
We’ve been working hard (and playing hard). We can expect the opportunities and challenges to continue, given the many projects and initiatives rolling out under our new Land Transport Masterplan. Thank you everyone for your contributions and here’s wishing you all a productive and exciting year ahead!
Yam Ah Mee, Chief Executive, LTA
The Fast & Furious D&D committee in full gear.
CE hosted a get-together for all LTA staff in November as a “thank you” gesture for everyone’s work toward achieving the Innovation Excellence Award.
