LTA considers implementing more full-day bus lanes
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 June 2008 2058 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Eleven new full-day bus lanes came into operation in the central business district on Monday, and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is planning to implement more such lanes in various parts of Singapore to cut travel times for bus commuters.

Serangoon Road is one of the areas being considered as it has high bus volume and traffic throughout the day, making it an ideal candidate for a full-day bus lane.

Tan Tee Nee, deputy director of traffic management at LTA, said: "The surrounding amenities... the high commercial activities - these are likely to generate more traffic along the road and of course, (higher) bus frequency."

Some welcomed such prospects.

R Selvam from Moulmein Tekka Residents Committee said: "Most of my residents travel by buses, so it is more of an advantage for them to come back early, then they can spend more time with their family and the school children."

S Gokulabalam, secretary of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, also said: "We will get more people coming to Little India and by that we will benefit."

Many shops along Serangoon Road use back lanes and side streets to load and unload their goods. But a few shopkeepers do not have such access, so deliveries are dropped off outside the shop during off-peak hours, when the bus lane is not in operation.

A merchant on Serangoon Road, Rani Kumar, said: "Full-day bus lane will obstruct a bit of our loading and unloading... It's convenient to load and unload at the main road... otherwise we have to go to the side road, it's going to be a little inconvenient."

Currently, the closest legal loading and unloading site to Mrs Rani's shop is about 50 metres away.

LTA officers are gathering feedback from shopkeepers so that issues like Mrs Rani's can be resolved before the full-day bus lane scheme is implemented in the area. - CNA/ac