SHORTAGE OF CAR PARKS (Solutions)

Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether his Ministry has any short and long term solutions to the shortage of car parks for both private and commercial vehicles; and (b) in view of the scarcity of land and the need to maximise land utilization, whether it is feasible to construct multi-storey car parks in Housing and Development Board estates.

Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the URA has conducted a study of the parking requirements of both light and heavy vehicles. While detailed implementation plans have yet to be worked out, the broad conclusions and recommendations of the study have been accepted by my Ministry. Recommendations incorporating both long term and short term solutions will be implemented. The long term solutions will include the following:-

(i) Centralized Lorry Parks

The majority of heavy vehicles will have to be provided with permanent parking areas in centralized parks. Such car parks will be kept out of residential areas because heavy vehicles cause environmental disamenity and may pose a danger to residents, especially children. Subject to availability of land and wherever possible, they will be sited on the fringes of HDB estates for the convenience of most drivers who are HDB dwellers. Overnight lorry parking will also be encouraged in industrial estates where space is available.

(ii) Car Parks

More surface car parks will be built in existing HDB estates where demand exceeds supply and if space permits. The HDB has completed surveys in Bedok, Clementi, Ang Mo Kio, Telok Blangah, Toa Payoh and Queenstown. Additional surface car parks will be built in these new towns by early next year. Surveys in other estates are still in progress. Additional car parks will be provided if necessary and possible. Parking provisions for future new towns will take into consideration the results of such surveys.

(iii) Kerbside Parking

Orderly kerbside parking for cars and light vehicles will be allowed along selected roads at night in HDB estates. Outside housing estates, overnight kerbside parking will be permitted for heavy vehicles where roads are sufficiently wide. Our roads are built to cope with traffic during peak hours. Overnight kerbside parking would allow us to maximize the use of road surface when the traffic flow is much less. The PWD, URA and HDB will ensure that smooth traffic flow will not be compromised by the implementation of kerbside parking.

(iv) City Parking

The standards for provision of car parks in private developments will be maintained. The URA will continue to build multi-storey car parks in the city to make up for the shortage of car parks in private developments. By 1985, an additional 2,200 car parking lots in the city will be made available by the URA.

Pending the implementation of the long-term solutions just described, short-term measures will be taken to alleviate parking problems in HDB estates. These include:-

(i) temporary kerbside parking in HDB estates along suitable roads for both heavy and light vehicles; and

(ii) temporary lorry parks outside or at the fringes of HDB estates. These measures will help to stem the pressure for car parking lots in HDB estates while more permanent solutions are implemented.

Where there is insufficient land for additional surface car parks in HDB estates, the only solution is to build multi-storey car parks. However, I foresee that parking fees will have to increase to cover the higher construction and maintenance costs of the additional parking space.