MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM (Operational date)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Ong Teng Cheong asked the Minister for Communications whether any positive decision has been made on the proposed Mass Transit System, in view of the rapidly deteriorating traffic situation and the current pace of physical and economic development; and whether a Mass Transit System is likely to be operational before 1980.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Yong Nyuk Lin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Mass Transit Study (MTS) project commenced in July 1972. The project is undertaken with the assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with the World Bank as its Executing Agency.

The aim of the MTS, which is in two phases, is to assist the Government in the formulation of a transportation programme that would efficiently serve present and future needs and complement overall plans for long-range development of the Republic. Phase I of the Study will provide recommendations for development of mass transit services based on comprehensive evaluation and analysis of available transportation alternatives. Phase II will be a detailed feasibility study of the recommended system.

Phase I of the Study was recently completed and the Consultants are expected to submit their Final Report around the end of this month. On receipt of the Final Report, the recommendations of the Consultants would be reviewed and submitted to Government for decision. When a decision is made on the system selected for detailed study, Phase II will commence. The details of Phase II cannot be finalised pending a decision on Phase I. For these reasons, it is not possible to say at this stage whether a mass transit system is likely to be operational before 1980.

It is relevant for me, Sir, to point out that the objective of the MTS is to provide long-term solutions. For the short-term, as Members are aware, vigorous steps have been and are being taken to improve the public transport system and the traffic situation. These measures include reserved bus lanes some of which are already in operation, as well as measures to restrain the growth of the private car population. Plans are also being studied for the location of over a dozen parking places around the periphery of the congested Central Business District to accommodate between 25 to 30 per cent of private cars entering the Central Business District at peak hours and arrange for special buses to carry such commuters into the Central Business District. This plan is based on the park-and-ride schemes operational in several large cities where cars which do not use these peripheral car parks have to pay a fee to enter the restricted zone. This plan when finalised will be published. After public discussion the plans may be improved upon before implementation.