IMPROVEMENTS AT BUS SHELTERS

Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Communications if he will consider (i) improving bus shelters so as to prevent passengers from getting wet during heavy rain and (ii) providing public telephones at these shelters.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: As part of its continuous efforts to make travelling by public transport more convenient and comfortable, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has embarked on an extensive programme to upgrade bus shelters and construct linkways. Under this programme, about 4,000 bus shelters will be upgraded in phases. The programme commenced this year, after a successful pilot project to test various new bus shelter designs. LTA is now proceeding with the first phase to upgrade some 800 bus shelters and construct about 200 linkways in older HDB estates. Work on these facilities will be starting soon and residents can look forward to using these upgraded bus shelters by mid-1998.

The new design bus shelters will be sized according to the estimated number of passengers using them. They will be wider than the present ones so that passengers will have more shelter from wet weather. Linkways to bus shelters will also be wider and, wherever possible, will have planting screens to provide better weather protection.

Based on commuters' feedback, LTA has also worked out a list of facilities to be provided within the new shelters. For example, besides lighting, seats and notice boards, large bus shelters will be provided with public telephones and ticket vending machines.