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SINGAPORE : 2008 may well go down as the year that transformed the face of public transport in Singapore, as sweeping changes to the bus, rail and road systems were introduced.
More changes are due to kick in next year.
Transport Minister Raymond Lim has said: "Not everybody says my name with affection but that goes with the job."
Mr Lim knows he may not win any popularity contest, especially as more Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries and higher rates kicked in this year - in an effort to keep traffic flowing.
One commuter said: "Nowadays people do not want to go out. If you go out, you must pay. So if people do not have a reason to go out, they will not. And that makes it tough on business."
But the bitter pill was accompanied by big investment sweeteners, including S$20 billion in infrastructure investment that would bring the MRT to places like Tuas and Marine Parade and double the rail network by 2020.
2009 will see the Boon Lay Extension opening in February and part of the Circle Line in the middle of the year.
And from January, commuters can pay for their next bus and MRT ride, and even shop, with a new super card - in place of the old EZ-Link card.
However, as the economy turned sour, passengers were interested in seeing immediate changes and for fares to remain affordable.
One passenger said: "I do not think they should increase the MRT fare anymore - it is too high already."
For a start, more train trips were added to help reduce overcrowding.
By 2009, the Land Transport Authority is also slotted to take over the role of central bus planner.
2008 saw several road bumps too.
Firstly, the uproar on stringent new rules for cabbies to pick up and drop off passengers in the Central Business District, which saw regulations eventually being made more flexible.
Secondly, motorists scrambled as COE prices plunged to a record S$2 in November - amidst the economic downturn.
On a sad note, seat belts became mandatory on small school buses after eight-year-old Russell Koh died in a road accident. Some felt he could have survived, had he been wearing a belt.
Up in the air, aviation started on a high - Changi Airport's Terminal 3 opened for business in January, the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route was liberalised, and more than US$13.4 billion worth of trade deals were sealed at the inaugural Singapore Airshow.
But early optimism in the skies has now given way to a negative outlook for aviation for the first half of next year. - CNA/ms
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