Sheltered Walkways under Walk2Ride Programme

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the proposed extended sheltered walkway network under the new Walk2Ride programme will benefit residents living in private estates that are within a 200- to 400-m radius of a train station, bus interchange or bus stop so as to encourage the use of public transport across all spectrums of the population; and (b) which estates in the northeastern and northwestern parts of Singapore are slated to have the first covered walkways with rest areas, directional signs and pedestrian route maps.

The Walk2Ride programme will expand our network of sheltered walkways by an additional 200km to connect our key public transport nodes to shopping, leisure, commercial and residential developments. The programme generally covers developments within 400m of MRT stations and 200m of LRT stations and bus interchanges, subject to site-specific

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considerations, and residents of private estates living near these public transport nodes will benefit.

Tenders for sheltered walkways around MRT stations in all HDB towns in the northeastern and northwestern parts of Singapore have been called and the contracts are targeted to be awarded in the first quarter of 2014. The detailed construction programme, including the locations of the walkways, will be established by the appointed contractors in consultation with the community.