TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY: 4.

Miss Penny Low asked the Minister for Transport (a) what has been done to further enhance the existing transportation infrastructure for the handicapped and elderly; and (b) how can infrastructure be designed such that it anticipates and meets the growing needs of the elderly, be it in MRT stations, bus terminals or overhead bridges.

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The Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am happy to update Miss Penny Low on the Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s initiatives to enhance the accessibility of our land transport infrastructure to meet the needs of the elderly and the less mobile.

The LTA has completed a Station Upgrade Project begun in 2000 to enhance the accessibility of MRT stations along the North-South and East-West lines. Lifts, tactile guidance systems and accessible toilets were installed. Each station also had at least one entrance upgraded to be barrier-free for wheelchair users. These features are already present in the stations on the North-East Line.

LTA is currently reviewing whether some stations require more than one entrance with a lift to make it easier for our less mobile citizens to access our trains more conveniently. Any enhanced standards would also apply to the Downtown Line.

Wheelchair-accessible buses have been introduced progressively since June 2006. They have been introduced on five bus routes identified in consultation with the voluntary welfare organisations and more will be rolled out. Bus stops along such routes are also upgraded to ensure accessibility. By 2010, 40% of our public bus fleet will be wheelchair accessible.

In December 2006, LTA launched a programme to implement barrier-free routes within a 400-metre radius of all MRT and LRT stations. These measures include having an unobstructed pedestrian walkway wide enough for a wheelchair to pass, ensuring that the pavements are flush with the road surface, introducing ramps where necessary, and providing decision tactiles to guide the visually impaired at crossings and pedestrian overhead bridges.

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In addition, LTA will also look at providing more traffic light crossings at suitable locations, as such crossings are more convenient for the elderly and less mobile.

LTA will continue to enhance our land transport system to meet the varied needs of our population as we move towards a more socially inclusive society.

Miss Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Sir, the Minister of State mentioned that there will be enhanced traffic junctions to make it easier for the elderly to cross the road. I am wondering whether there will also be plans to make the overhead bridges a lot more user-friendly with a slightly lower gradient and perhaps ramps by the side as well.

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Sir, essentially, LTA will build more signalised pedestrian crossings as these have proven to be more convenient for the elderly and the less able. However, on stretches like expressways and main arterial roads where the speed is a lot higher, pedestrian overhead bridges would be used. This is the guiding principle. And where there are no land take constraints, ramps could be considered to also facilitate these movements. A lot of what is available is usually constrained by what is possible at the different sites, such as a more gradual gradient for the ramp and this would be taken into consideration whenever LTA decides to construct a pedestrian overhead bridge.

Miss Penny Low: Does it therefore imply that in places like new towns, in particular, there could be the possibility of building more graduated or low gradient overhead bridges? On top of that, I would like to also ask two supplementary questions. The Minister of State mentioned that 40% of the buses will be disabled-friendly by 2010. May I ask if it is possible to accelerate that because to wait for the next five years, or maybe

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even 10 years, to get 100% is actually a long wait for the disabled population. On top of that, is it also possible to enlarge some of the pedestrian walkways, especially in new towns, so that they can also be wheelchair friendly? One last supplementary question: have the pedestrian crossings been effective because there had been a number of accidents in the past? If it is not, are there plans for road safety education?

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua: Mr Speaker, Sir, let me take the questions in turn. Generally, where overhead bridges or signalised pedestrian crossings are built in densely built-up areas, the land take is really quite a severe constraint. Therefore, even though we can plan for new towns and accommodate some of the overhead bridges to provide for ramps, this will still be ultimately a balance between the other users of the overhead bridges as well as the elderly and the disabled. A balance has to be struck because if the gradient is far too gentle, then all those who are more able will actually have to walk a fuller length of the ramp which then might defeat the whole purpose of facilitating a quick crossing of the road.

As for the 40% target that we are reaching in 2010, this is really to accommodate the replacement programme of the buses as it is very expensive to replace all buses at one go. And this is already being funded by the Government in terms of providing the cost of equipping the buses with these ramps. Miss Penny Low has also asked whether walkways could be wide enough to accommodate the needs of the wheelchair users. Again, this is a balance that we have to strike as it involves the allocation of space. This applies equally to road space, space at the side table. Generally, at the end of the day, it is a question of the constraints of the area and the needs of the different stakeholders. And, by and large, for some of these where there are possibilities, then grassroots organisations would be involved in the

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discussion of what might be the most appropriate for that particular situation.

Finally, I think Miss Penny Low alludes to the point of public education and personal safety. The Government can only go so far as to provide the structures, such as signalised pedestrian crossings or overhead bridges. But, ultimately, the responsibility is for each pedestrian to maintain his own personal safety and to look out for himself. So you could have a signalised pedestrian crossing, but if the user does not want to wait and decides to jay walk across, then he is putting his own life in danger.