Barrier-free Access Measures in Land Transport Master Plan 2013

Mdm Speaker, the diverse needs of our society were an important consideration for both the Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2013 as well as the first version in 2008. One of the three key thrusts of LTMP 2013 is thus to ensure that our land transport system supports a "liveable and inclusive community". This includes accessibility for all commuters, including our growing elderly population.

Today, all our train stations and bus interchanges are barrier-free. We have also doubled the number of taxis that can accommodate high-back motorised wheelchairs. All public buses will be wheelchair-accessible by 2020, up from 64% today.

To give more green time for the elderly and disabled to cross the road safely, LTA will extend the Green Man Plus scheme to 500 more pedestrian crossings by 2015. LTA will also extend the audio tactile system to more pedestrian crossings to aid the visually impaired.

Our sheltered walkways, including the 200 km more that will be built as part of the Walk2Ride programme under LTMP 2013, will offer rest areas to make walking more comfortable for the seniors. Another 40 overhead bridges will have lifts installed by 2018. LTA is reviewing design requirements for pedestrian infrastructure as a whole to help seniors using wheelchairs and other mobility aids to get around.

I would like to assure the House that designing an accessible transport system remains a key area of priority for my Ministry.

Thank you, Madam. I would like to thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the comprehensive answer. I would just like to ask whether the Ministry has considered from the user's point of view that accessibility requires an unbroken path of travel door-to-door, not just many parts of the system having accessible features – that if just one part of it

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is not accessible, it would be very difficult for that person to make the journey – and that whether in the process of coming up with this Master Plan, ethnographic studies or similar studies have been conducted to validate the experiences of commuters with accessibility issues to make sure that every single part of the system actually works for them. And in this process, whether there were involvement of voluntary welfare organisations and groups that represent these people with disabilities and elderly persons to contribute their ideas to a more accessible Land Transport Master Plan.

I thank the Member for the supplementary question. We also share the same concern that the Member has with regard to accessibility in Singapore. In fact, it is the focus of our attention that we look at the journey as a whole. We also meet different users of our transport network, as well as its ancillary facilities, to ensure that we have that holistic perspective.

For example, I would like to share that we have the City for All Ages Project. It is a multi-agency project where we not only look at the facilities, we speak to individuals, users of such facilities, and we go down to the ground, we work with the VWOs in Marine Parade, for example, to see how the needs of our commuters and pedestrians are well taken care of. I am pleased to share that because of these findings – sharing by our users and commuters – we are able to pilot a few of the initiatives that we have currently in Marine Parade. As we move forward, as we deepen our journey into an ageing society, we will do more, and I assure the House again that accessibility is key to our public transport system as well as beyond in making places all over Singapore accessible to everyone.

Thank you for giving me the chance to ask the question about accessibility. Today, we have a Walk2Ride Programme that has been announced. I wonder if the Ministry is working with the commercial buildings to ensure the Walk2Ride scheme covers those commercial and industrial buildings so that accessibility, especially sheltered linkways to the MRT station, is also part-and-parcel of the Plan.

The Walk2Ride Programme is something we hope to roll out in various parts of Singapore. Looking at the plans of the first phase of such programme, I am pleased to share with Members that we are looking at how we can facilitate the movement of our commuters and pedestrians to the MRT station. If, let us say, such buildings are part of the process or part of the journey in the process of commuters going to

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the MRT station, we will look into it and we will consider as and when it is necessary.

Thank you, Mdm Speaker. May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether LTA would consider accelerating the installation of pedestrian traffic crossings in estates with a high number of elderly residents? For example, in Tanjong Rhu estate, you gave us an overhead bridge but it is too much effort for the elderly people to climb the overhead bridge. So, we are looking for a traffic crossing. Would LTA consider that?

Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Member Mr Lim Biow Chuan for his question. I have discussed this issue with him. I think it is important for us to look at it as a journey. It is important for us to look at the needs of the elderly. One of the areas that we are looking at is how we can we take care of the mobility, as well as the safety, of the silver community. So, this is part of our process. Nevertheless, we have announced earlier some of the areas that we are looking at are, firstly, to install lifts at some pedestrian overhead bridges. That will facilitate movement for the elderly. We also want to ensure that our transport system caters to the majority. For those localised areas that face particular challenges, we will work together with the local Members and advisers of the community to see how we can facilitate the movement of people.