Land Transport Gallery

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport, that spearheads land transport developments in Singapore. LTA plans the long-term transport needs of Singapore, taking care of those who drive as well as those who take public transport. The ultimate goal - a smooth and seamless journey for all.


Green & Clean Reflection
System

The trip to LTA was an eye opening experience, whereby we learnt that land constraint is the main problem that the land transportation system in Singapore is faced with. As such, the Singapore government works extremely closely with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to decide the best way to integrate land use and transportation planning. Fidah and I found out that the government has been rather successful working around the problem of land shortage by using technology to create expressways, flyovers and underground tunnels.

Expressways
The development of expressways has made effective use of what little land Singapore has as it cuts down travelling time, significantly. The first and the longest expressway is called the PIE (Pan-Island Expressway). It is about 42.8 kilometres and it connects Tuas to the Singapore Changi Airport. Of course, the PIE is not the only expressway that Singapore has constructed. If you look at the picture to the right, you would be able to learn about other expressways that have been built after the PIE. There are also several expressway projects that are currently on going. The Marina Coastal Expressway is a 5 kilometres expressways crucial for the economic development of Singapore. It would be built by 2013. The other would be the North South Expressway that would cut down travelling time to the city from the north by a third.

Flyovers
While the creation of expressways may cut down travelling time, we cannot continue building expressways alone because it still uses up a significant amount of land. Hence, the construction of flyovers is crucial because it increases the amount of land that Singapore has. It is also very interesting to note that in the past, as technology was less advanced, bridges were used instead of flyovers.

Underground Tunnels
It is interesting to note that besides creating excess land space in the air by building flyovers, Singapore has also overcame the problem of land constraints by creating extra land space by building underground transportation tunnels. Take the KPE for example, cutting under the Geylang River, and built at the cost of roughly 1.8 billion, it is an extremely intricate project that has significantly increased the land space for transportation. Another interesting project that we would like to share is the Fort Canning Tunnel. Using the mining method, a tunnel was dug through a hill, and 35 trees were saved in the process.


These underground tunnels all employ the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) technology to create underground tunnels. It is favoured because using the traditional “cut and cover” technique, it does not disrupt the existing roads and buildings on the surface, thus minimising the tunnel construction in the busy downtown area. For example, the MRT interchange between City Hall and Raffles Placewas created through the use of TBM technology.



All Blacks Reflection
Public Transport
Singapore is a cosmopolitan and densely populated urban country with more than a million trips made over roads and railways daily. Thus, there is an emphasis on designing an efficient land transport system to meet the people’s needs.

In the 1960s, bus companies and private cabs were not regulated, and traffic was chaotic. There wasn’t any structured and efficient transport system in place. This would change gradually over the years, helping to transport out people in a more safe and efficient environment.

Private vehicle ownership

As Singaporeans become more affluent due to the development of the country, the demand for private transport increased. In the 1960s, forecasts showed that the car population was set to triple by 1990. If left unmanaged, rapid growth in the car population will lead to many problems such as high traffic volumes which will ultimately affect Singapore’s economy. In order to counter these problems, the government had to devise innovative measures such as the following:

1. Vehicle Quota System (VQS)
2. Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF)
3. Certificate of Entitlement (COE)
4. Off-peak car schemes
5. Traffic Management such as Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
6. Regular Vehicle Inspection Schemes
7. Emphasis on Public Transportation
   

Commercial vehicles
Working machines such as bulldozers, cement mixers and many other types of construction vehicles are the building blocks of our landscape today. Even the refuse collection vehicle plays an important role in our daily lives by clearing the trash from households and keeping Singapore clean.

Due to the scarcity of land in Singapore and fast growth of the population, there are many competing uses for our limited land. Therefore, public transport was emphasized to ease the problems of traffic congestion.

Forms of Public Transportation in Singapore
These are the main forms of transportation in Singapore:

1. MRT (Mass Rapid Transport)
2. Commercial vehicles
3. Taxis
4. Bus
5. Private vehicles ownership – cars and motorcycles

MRT (Mass Rapid Transport)

In the early 1970s, the government realized the need for a rail transit system to cater to Singapore’s growing transport needs. After many debates on the matter, the government decided to implement the project. Now, the MRT forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, with an average ridership of 1.8 million commuters daily. It is one of the fastest ways to get around Singapore as the MRT operates through the most densely-populated areas. In addition, numerous measures have been taken by the authorities to ensure the safety of passengers. Most of the underground stations can also serve as bomb shelters for the masses in case of aerial bomb attacks.


Taxi

This is a popular form of public transport, with fares considered relatively low as compared to that of other developed countries. All taxis are fitted with meters and are air-conditioned and serviceable.

Bus

In the 1970s, there was a consolidation of bus companies from ten companies to three, each serving a different geographical sector. Now, the bus is considered as the most comprehensive and affordable means of public transport for the masses, with over 2 million rides taken daily. There are more than 300 bus services covering most parts of Singapore.

Benefits of Public Transportation in Singapore

• Travelling made easy

The MRT and bus routes cover most parts of Singapore, operating through the densely populated areas and linking people to the city with ease and in air-conditioned comfort. These forms of transportation are also cost -efficient, thus making it a good alternative to private transport.

• Technology on the go

The fare you pay is based on the distance which you travel on bus, rail, or both, irrespective of the transfer you make. Thus, this form of system is fair for all. In addition, travel information is easily accessible and one can know the arrival timing of the bus or rail due to the advanced technology. With the advantages brought about by the advanced technology, one can also plan his or her journey more efficiently, thus saving cost and time.

Commuting is a breeze, a quality travelling experience, safe and reliable journeys

Authorities will constantly get feedback from the public regarding the service standards of the public transport. This is done so as to ensure a quality travelling experience and provide a safe and reliable journey for the public.


Pinkies & the Brains Reflection
Swift & Efficient Transportation System

Have you ever wondered how Singapore accommodates to the increasing number of motorists on the road year after year despite our limited land area? Or how the EMAS towing crew seems to appear from nowhere when your vehicle breaks down along the expressway?

Well, the Land Transport Authority or LTA in short is a major player ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and vehicles on the road every single day. Being the smallest country in Southeast Asia, Singapore’s land area measures to about 699.1sq km, merely a fraction of the land size as compared to our direct neighbour, Malaysia. As such, it is paramount for the government to embark on a first class transportation system to ensure that any congestion on the road is quickly eased up.

During our visit to the LTA Headquarters at Hampshire Rd, we were awed by the capability of the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) adopted by LTA to ensure smooth flowing traffic, which function as the ‘eyes’ of LTA, watching over our roads and expressways. The constant monitoring and regulating of traffic condition ensures a safe and efficient transportation system. We were told that to reduce the amount of breakdowns and accidents on the road, LTA conducts regular mandatory vehicle inspection schemes. Additionally, our visit also shed some light on LTA’s upcoming projects for the construction of the Bradell, Thomson, Lornie and Woodsville interchange facilitates to further ensure a smooth journey for motorists and other road users.

There are numerous ITS operating in Singapore, harnessing the use of advanced technological equipments within our transportation network. These systems include the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS), Junction Electronic Eyes (J-Eyes), Traffic Scan, Signalised Pedestrian Crossing, Parking Guidance System, Trial on Traffic Prediction Tool, Traffic Information Platform, Electronic Regulatory Signs, Green Link Determining (GLIDE) System and Electronic Road Pricing System (ERP.

Junction Electronic Eyes (J-Eyes)
Have you ever noticed the surveillance-like cameras attached to the poles and pillars along the expressways? Well, those cameras are known as the J-Eyes, which serve as the remote eyes for the operation executives at the Traffic Control Centre. With J-Eyes, the operation executives are able to efficiently spot and rectify causes for traffic congestions and built up. It also assists in the deterrent of illegal parking as well as performing loading and unloading along the expressways or any major roads.

How does it work?

1. Special poles, street lampposts and selected traffic lights at major road junctions are mounted with surveillance cameras to capture images of traffic situation at junctions.

2. The operation executives would monitor images that are sent to the traffic control centre.


Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS)
With the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS), vehicle breakdowns and accidents are quickly detected and motorists would be immediately alerted of the current traffic conditions and incidents along the expressways through its display system. Thus, with EMAS, motorists may choose to avoid the affected areas and prevent unnecessary congestions.

How does it work?

1. The Operations Executives from the control centre would frequently pan the surveillance cameras so as to detect any vehicle breakdown and congestion.
   
2. If any incident were detected, vehicle recovery crew would be activated.
   
3. Electronic signboards along expressways and adjacent major roads would display messages on traffic situations ahead.
   
4. Traffic information is also dispatched to TrafficWatch (Mediacorp Radio) for broadcasting.
   
5. Vehicle recovery crew arrives within 15 minutes.
   
6. Motorists would be assisted and obstruction would be removed.
   
7. Traffic would be restored to normalcy with the vehicle recovery service crew – LTA Traffic Marshals and Traffic Police.

Access this document for more interesting facts!
(Source:http://www.onemotoring.com.sg )


The Green Link Determining (GLIDE) System
As we cross the pedestrian crossing equipped with the traffic lights, we could not help but wonder how this intelligent traffic control actually works, synchronizing the green and red lights. Apparently, it is the Green Link Determining (GLIDE) System which controls all traffic signals along the arterial roads with the green ‘air’ time adjusted as traffic flow changes. Do you know that GLIDE also ensures that motorists travel from one junction to another with minimal stops by linking and adjusting the neighbouring junctions? GLIDE also ensures that green time is allocated based on traffic volumes in each direction and signal faults are quickly rectified.

How does it work for vehicles?

1. Vehicles are sensed through the detector loops, which are laid beneath the road surface at junctions.
   
2. There would be changes in the magnetic field each time a vehicle moves over the loop.
   
3. Local controller is activated.
   
4. Traffic light timing would be adjusted so as to allow more green time to the direction with higher traffic volume.

How does it work for pedestrians?

1. The presence of pedestrians is detected via the push buttons placed at traffic signal poles.
   
2. The green man only appears when the button is pushed.

TrafficScan
All taxis are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) where information such as their speeds as they ply along roads are recorded. These data are then processed at the back end of LTA’s system to provide the average speeds along a specific road.

Parking Guidance System (PGS)
The Parking Guidance System (PGS) refers to the electronic information panels containing information on the availability of the parking spaces in the vicinity. With (PGS), motorists can easily find available parking areas while reducing the amount of time and need to keep circulating the area looking for a place to park. A total of twenty-three PGS panels are installed at key locations leading into the Marina Centre area, Orchard area and Harbourfront area.
Electronic Road Pricing System (ERP)

To avoid road congestion during peak hours, LTA initiated the Electronic Road Pricing System, which charges motorists a certain amount of fee depending on the volume of traffic plying that area.

Intelligent Transport System Centre

These systems are controlled by a central communication centre; the Intelligent Transport System Centre which operates 24 hours a day in order to keep track of the traffic flow via the data gathered from the various ITS.

Through the learning journey to LTA, we are now able have a better understanding on the measures taken by LTA in ensuring our smooth flow of traffic despite our country’s land constrain. With the adoption of advanced technology and equipments, LTA is an invariable contributor to our nation building, striving for the best in transportation facilities and system.