1. Commuters will be able to get
real-time bus arrival information of both SBST and SMRT bus services at an
additional 20 bus stops around Singapore by May 2008. This will help commuters
better manage waiting time and transfers, and to make more informed travel
decisions.
2. The LTA is extending this
initiative as commuter feedback has been positive. In a survey to measure
commuter receptivity to the first 30 real-time bus arrival information panels
which were installed in July last year, 9 out of 10 respondents polled felt that
the real-time bus arrival information panels were useful and important. More
than 90% of the respondents hoped to have panels at more bus stops.
3.
The additional panels will be
installed from 31 March at bus stops with a high volume of commuter traffic
(Please refer to Annex
A for the full list of the 20 bus stops). Installation of the panels will be
completed by end-May 2008. The panels will display the bus services that call at
a particular bus stop, the arrival times of the next and subsequent buses for
each bus service, and a symbol to indicate whether the bus is
wheelchair-accessible.
4. In addition, to facilitate
commuters making transfers between rail and buses, the panels at each of the bus
stops located near the Bugis MRT station and the Chinatown NEL station will also
display the arrival times of rail services at those stations. This additional
rail information will be available from July 2008. Two panels carrying the same
arrival times of bus services at the bus stops near these stations will
also be installed at the station entrances from July 2008. These two MRT
stations were selected as the bus stops at the stations have a high volume of
commuter traffic. The LTA will monitor commuters' feedback on the usefulness of
this additional information before deciding on further roll out.
More Key Bus Services Maps in the Orchard Road and
Chinatown Vicinities
5. LTA will also extend the Key Bus
Services Maps to the Chinatown vicinity and to more areas at Orchard Road by the
second half of this year. These include 35 bus stops along the main
thoroughfares of Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road and
five bus stops along Napier Road and Tomlinson Road (Please refer to Annex
B for the list of the 40 bus stops).
6. LTA's survey showed that 8 out of
10 respondents found the Key Bus Services Maps useful. Nine out of 10
respondents also indicated that they would like to see the Key Bus Services Maps
displayed at more bus stops in the Orchard Road vicinity, while 8 out of 10
respondents would like to see similar maps displayed at major bus stops at other
key areas or attractions.
7. Launched in July 2007, the Key Bus
Services Maps were first installed at 36 bus stops in the Orchard Road area.
Designed primarily for tourists and infrequent public transport users, each map
provides pictorial information on key bus services calling at the bus stop and
the routes they cover. It also indicates the MRT stations along the routes,
significant buildings and locales such as places of interests, tourist
attractions and major shopping malls.
8. "As part of LTA's on-going
efforts to enhance the public transport experience and to empower commuters to
make informed decisions when using our public transport system, LTA will
continue to explore other platforms on which such information can be
disseminated. By working in partnership with commuters and other stakeholders,
we can better achieve our aim of making public transport a choice mode for
all," said Mr Yam Ah Mee, LTA's Chief Executive.
