JURONG WEST EXTENSION HDB ESTATE (Study of public transport needs)

Mr R. Ravindran asked the Minister for Communications whether the Land Transport Authority has undertaken a comprehensive study of the public transport needs for Jurong West Extension Housing and Development Board Estate and, if so, what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations of such study.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (for the Minister for Communications): Sir, when new housing estates are being developed, LTA and the bus companies will work with the HDB to study the public transport needs of these new estates and draw up a conceptual bus plan for the town. The bus services are introduced in tandem with the growth and development of the housing estates. LTA and the bus companies monitor the usage of the bus services to ensure that they are adequate to meet the transport needs of the residents.

In the case of Jurong West Extension housing estate, SBS has worked out a conceptual bus plan to serve the estate. Its immediate plan is to amend its Service 243 to a dual service loop to serve the residents along Jurong West Street 62, as Street 62 is a new road that was recently completed. As the town develops and demand for services grows, SBS will improve the bus services.

Mr R. Ravindran (Bukit Timah): Sir, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether he is aware that the Boon Lay bus terminal and the MRT station are overcrowded at peak hours and it is due to the large increase in the population in the vicinity. As such, would his Ministry also consider improving the facilities in those two areas?

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, we are aware of the congestion taking place at the Boon Lay Bus Interchange and MRT station area. I am sure Mr Ravindran is familiar with what is happening in the area. I would not go into the details. But we have taken some measures to improve accessibility to the area. LTA has constructed an extension to Boon Lay Way from the cul-de-sac (Boon Lay MRT station) to the west to connect with Pioneer Road North and Upper Jurong Road. This extension, in fact, will be opened tomorrow, Friday, 16th April 1999. When it is opened, it will allow traffic to directly access the Boon Lay Bus Interchange and MRT station area from the west. The bus operators are also looking into how the bus services to the bus interchange could be better routed to run along the newly completed road to further reduce congestion along the existing stretch of Boon Lay Way.