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12-01-12, 16:47
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_754528.html
Telok Blangah MRT 'hard for some to get to'
No direct bus to train station; hilly terrain makes for difficult walk
Published on Jan 12, 2012
By Maria Almenoar, Transport Correspondent
IT IS a case of so-near-yet-so-far for many Telok Blangah residents. The excitement of a new MRT station opening in their backyard last October has vanished after residents realised there was no bus service linking the estate and the station.
Walking to the Telok Blangah MRT station at Telok Blangah Road is one option, but residents said the hilly terrain and lack of proper pedestrian crossings make for a difficult trek, especially for the old and handicapped.
For legal secretary Karen Tng, who lives in Block 88 at the topmost section of the estate, the estimated 1km walk to the Circle Line station takes about 20 minutes, which she does only when she is not in a rush. 'It is a complete waste of time. I just avoid using the station altogether,' said Mrs Tng, 30.
Mr Lim Hng Kiang, MP for West Coast GRC, said he was aware of the requests for better connectivity from residents in the estate, which has about 40 blocks.
Adding that the new MRT station was a boon for them, he noted that most have to walk 400m, and those in blocks farther away, about 600m.
'Unfortunately, for the new precinct (which includes Block 88), it is about 800m. It is downhill going to the station, but uphill going home,' said Mr Lim, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry.
He added that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is exploring some form of feeder service for this precinct, but 'the catchment is very small' and residents from other parts of the estate are likely to walk and not take the feeder service.
LTA confirmed that it would continue to review the bus services in 'view of upcoming developments' in the area.
For now, buses on routes 273 and 124, which ply parts of the estate, do not go to Telok Blangah Road. Instead, they head either to Chinatown or Bukit Merah.
From the MRT station to the estate, there is just one bus service - 176 - that stops at the fringe of the estate at Henderson Road. At the first bus stop, one must walk up 50 steps to the nearest blocks, a challenge for the elderly.
The second bus stop is a distance from the estate, and if residents want to take feeder bus 273 or trunk service 124, they have to cross the four-lane Henderson Road, which has no pedestrian crossing.
The buses travel south down Telok Blangah Street 32, a one-way street.
Those who have crossed over from the MRT station via an overhead bridge cannot board these buses to return to homes upslope and in the other direction.
Mr Desmond Koh, 38, a resident of 34 years, said if the Government was serious about improving connectivity, it should look into this problem.
'I have seen elderly residents struggling uphill and office workers drenched in perspiration as they trek back home,' said the human resource manager.
In September, the Government announced that it was looking into improving connectivity to and from MRT stations and busy bus stops. This would include having sheltered walkways linking the station to homes, shops and food centres within a 400m radius.
LTA said it will work with town councils and private developers on connectivity and accessibility.
Mr Lim said that over the years, there had been improvements, with service 124 being routed through the estate to connect it to Outram MRT station.
Mr Koh said the LTA should just consider rerouting the feeder bus to serve the MRT station.
To this, LTA said: 'While requests to amend existing bus routes will bring benefits to new passengers, it will also have adverse impact on existing passengers.'
But Mr Koh countered that this is a chicken-and-egg problem.
'Everyone goes to Bukit Merah and Chinatown because they are the only accessible locations from their homes,' he said.
His view is that people will not complain if the feeder bus serves the new MRT station as it will give them more travelling options.
'If you provide these buses to the station, you will find more people relying less on the direct buses to Chinatown and Bukit Merah,' he said.
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Telok Blangah MRT 'hard for some to get to'
No direct bus to train station; hilly terrain makes for difficult walk
Published on Jan 12, 2012
By Maria Almenoar, Transport Correspondent
IT IS a case of so-near-yet-so-far for many Telok Blangah residents. The excitement of a new MRT station opening in their backyard last October has vanished after residents realised there was no bus service linking the estate and the station.
Walking to the Telok Blangah MRT station at Telok Blangah Road is one option, but residents said the hilly terrain and lack of proper pedestrian crossings make for a difficult trek, especially for the old and handicapped.
For legal secretary Karen Tng, who lives in Block 88 at the topmost section of the estate, the estimated 1km walk to the Circle Line station takes about 20 minutes, which she does only when she is not in a rush. 'It is a complete waste of time. I just avoid using the station altogether,' said Mrs Tng, 30.
Mr Lim Hng Kiang, MP for West Coast GRC, said he was aware of the requests for better connectivity from residents in the estate, which has about 40 blocks.
Adding that the new MRT station was a boon for them, he noted that most have to walk 400m, and those in blocks farther away, about 600m.
'Unfortunately, for the new precinct (which includes Block 88), it is about 800m. It is downhill going to the station, but uphill going home,' said Mr Lim, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry.
He added that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is exploring some form of feeder service for this precinct, but 'the catchment is very small' and residents from other parts of the estate are likely to walk and not take the feeder service.
LTA confirmed that it would continue to review the bus services in 'view of upcoming developments' in the area.
For now, buses on routes 273 and 124, which ply parts of the estate, do not go to Telok Blangah Road. Instead, they head either to Chinatown or Bukit Merah.
From the MRT station to the estate, there is just one bus service - 176 - that stops at the fringe of the estate at Henderson Road. At the first bus stop, one must walk up 50 steps to the nearest blocks, a challenge for the elderly.
The second bus stop is a distance from the estate, and if residents want to take feeder bus 273 or trunk service 124, they have to cross the four-lane Henderson Road, which has no pedestrian crossing.
The buses travel south down Telok Blangah Street 32, a one-way street.
Those who have crossed over from the MRT station via an overhead bridge cannot board these buses to return to homes upslope and in the other direction.
Mr Desmond Koh, 38, a resident of 34 years, said if the Government was serious about improving connectivity, it should look into this problem.
'I have seen elderly residents struggling uphill and office workers drenched in perspiration as they trek back home,' said the human resource manager.
In September, the Government announced that it was looking into improving connectivity to and from MRT stations and busy bus stops. This would include having sheltered walkways linking the station to homes, shops and food centres within a 400m radius.
LTA said it will work with town councils and private developers on connectivity and accessibility.
Mr Lim said that over the years, there had been improvements, with service 124 being routed through the estate to connect it to Outram MRT station.
Mr Koh said the LTA should just consider rerouting the feeder bus to serve the MRT station.
To this, LTA said: 'While requests to amend existing bus routes will bring benefits to new passengers, it will also have adverse impact on existing passengers.'
But Mr Koh countered that this is a chicken-and-egg problem.
'Everyone goes to Bukit Merah and Chinatown because they are the only accessible locations from their homes,' he said.
His view is that people will not complain if the feeder bus serves the new MRT station as it will give them more travelling options.
'If you provide these buses to the station, you will find more people relying less on the direct buses to Chinatown and Bukit Merah,' he said.
[email protected]