September 2016

Riding Towards

A Car-Lite Future

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The Singapore Rail Academy – slated to start in the second half of 2016 – is instrumental in developing capabilities and ensuring standards necessary to meet the demands of the expanded rail network.

As Singapore continues to expand its rail network to 360km by 2030, more people are needed to work in rail operations and maintenance to keep the trains going. It is estimated that an additional 5000 workers will be needed.

Former president of the Nanyang Technological University and former chairman of the SIM University, Professor Cham Tao Soon, will lead the academy set–up.

It will work with institutes of higher learning and rail operators to offer pre-employment programmes such as apprenticeships for students, and continuing education programmes for those who are already working.

The Academy will work with other organizations on rail-related research, collaborate with the local rail operators to raise standards across the industry and will introduce an accreditation and certification framework so workers can upgrade themselves.

Bus and Rail AcademySkilled people are what make the hardware and technology behind the buses and trains work. LTA is creating a bus academy and a rail academy to widen and deepen the talent pool for the industry.

Left The rail sector requires a wide range of skilled professionals, from architects to design engineers to systems and electrical engineers.

CONTENTS02 Bus and Rail Academy

03 Here’s What You Need to Know If You Ride a Bicycle, Kick-scooter, E-scooter, Electric Bicycle or Hoverboard

04-05 Shifting Travel Patterns: Is it Working?

06-07 National Day Awards 2016

08-09 Ang Mo Kio: Singapore’s First Walking & Cycling Town

10 Land Transport Festival 2016Private Developers to Cater for Pedestrians and Cyclists

11 Digging Rectangular Tunnels for Underpasses

12 How do the Bus Contracting Model and New Rail Financing Framework compare? Connect is a bi-monthly newsletter of the Land Transport Authority. All rights reserved. © 2016

Please contact Connect Editor regarding permission to reproduce any material within. ISSN:1793-4931

Managing Editor: Sharon Lok (sharon_lok@lta.gov.sg)

Editors: Mitch Teo (teo_wei_peng @lta.gov.sg) and Chen Yinglin (chen_yinglin@lta.gov.sg)

Corporate Communications Group

The Singapore Bus Academy – due to begin operation in the second half of 2016 – will be a training centre for all bus professionals.

LTA will set up the academy – to be located at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability – together with the Employment and Employability Institute in Jurong East.

It is part of a comprehensive programme to develop talent for the bus industry given the expansion of the bus network and the push to deliver better service.

Initiatives to attract people to the industry and retain them include the introduction of study awards for bus workers who want to upgrade their skills, better employment terms and a workplace more conducive to improve service.

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Here’s What You Need to Know If You Ride a Bicycle, Kick-scooter, E-scooter, Electric Bicycle or Hoverboard

Top The Safe Riders Campaign kicked off at the April’s edition of Car-Free Sunday SG.

Without dismounting from your bicycle, you zip through a crowded bus stop. Luckily, you don’t hit anyone.

In the past, you might have gotten away with dirty looks from the bus commuters.

Now, an enforcement officer whose job is to look out for reckless cyclists and riders of other personal mobility devices might stop you and issue a warning.

These Active Mobility Enforcement Officers are carrying out regular patrols in hotspots with a lot of people — like bus stops and traffic junctions — to ensure safe and harmonious sharing of paths – including footpaths, cycling paths and shared paths.

These officers have already begun patrols, but are starting gently by giving out friendly advice.

People in the community have also been roped in as volunteers to patrol their area via an Active Mobility Patrol scheme. Volunteers from Toa Payoh East-Novena Grassroots Organisations were first to start patrols in April.

SEVEN HABITS FOR RIDERS• Go slow. • Give way to pedestrians. • Get down and push your bike or personal mobility device in crowded areas. • Stop and look out before crossing. • Keep left on the path. • Alert others before overtaking. • Switch on your lights when it’s dark (make sure you have lights).

All cyclists and those who use personal mobility devices should internalise these seven good habits, to stay safe.

These habits will be publicised as part of a Safe Riders Campaign. Posters and banners featuring these habits will be displayed, and safe riding events will be organised.

LTA is also working with the Singapore Road Safety Council to introduce a Cycling Education Programme to educate participants on safe cycling practices.

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Shifting Travel Patterns:

Is It Working?Efforts to nudge commuters to travel outside of peak hours are slowly but surely showing results.

FREE TRAVEL ON THE MRTStarting in June 2013, commuters who travel before the morning peak have benefited from free and discounted MRT fares.

About 7 percent of commuters have consistently been doing so.

Top Commuters at the train station during peak hours.

The scheme—which now benefits more than 65,000 morning commuters—will be extended for another year till 30 June 2017.

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TRAVEL SMART NETWORKCompanies receive Government funding if they introduce initiatives to help their workers travel during off-peak periods. Over 100 companies have tapped on this fund since the Travel Smart Network was launched in August 2014.

Together with free pre-peak travel on the MRT, nearly 15,000 more workers are no longer squeezing into the MRT between 8am and 9am every day. This frees up the equivalent of 10 train loads of space.

TRAVEL SMART CONSULTANCY VOUCHERSEligible companies can use these vouchers to pay external travel management consultants who will come in to give ideas on how workers can modify their travel patterns without compromising their work. More companies eager to make such changes have been tapping on these vouchers.

Right Travel Smart Rewards, Off-Peak Pass and Free Pre-Peak Travel benefits for commuters.

Top Participants were joined by Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo at the Travel Smart Day event, held at Asia Square on 23 June 2016.

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National Day Awards 2016

Mrs Tammie Loke-Tang Mui Tham Senior Advisor for Corporate Communications Group

Tammie led the MRTC public relations team to work with communities around Singapore’s first MRT lines and continued to spearhead LTA’s public communications strategy after returning to LTA in 2006. Examples of bringing to life many of LTA’s policies and projects through diverse and creative outreach efforts include the KPE Underground, a novel road safety campaign built around Singapore’s longest tunnel and later the public transport improvements and affinity campaigns. In the launch of the Land Transport Masterplans in 2008 and 2013, she led her team to create well-received programmes to engage the public. Appointed Senior Advisor of Corporate Communications in 2015, Tammie continues to provide guidance to the Group and to the rest of LTA on key projects such as the development of the Walk Cycle Ride SG brand and LTE scheme of service.

Mr Leong Kwok Weng Group Director for Rail / Road Systems Engineering Group During his 29 years with MRTC and LTA, Kwok Weng has made tremendous contributions in the field of transit systems in Singapore as well as internationally. He played a pivotal role in the development of rigorous engineering principles, standards and processes for Singapore’s transit systems, which has influenced the industry internationally. An example of his many achievements included the development of a set of core engineering principles to support fully automated train operations, which formed the design principles for the North-East Line — the world’s first fully automated underground driverless heavy rail rapid transit line. He is also leading the management of LTA’s rail infrastructure and operating assets under the New Rail Financing Framework.

Mr Yeo Teck Guan Group Director for Public Transport Group Teck Guan has been with LTA since 1998 and has since developed extensive experience in the public transport sector. He provides strategic direction for LTA’s public transport policies and schemes, oversees the regulation, licensing and performance of the public transport operators; and ensures corporate-wide contingency plans and strategies to deal with land transport emergencies. Among his achievements are the development of integrated public transport information, the implementation of the Government Contracting Model for public buses, the introduction of the Bus Service Reliability Framework, and the execution of the Travel Smart Programme. Bringing a blend of policy acumen and regulatory expertise to the group has enabled him to contribute substantially to Singapore’s public transport industry.

Three members from LTA’s senior management among the award recipients for the prestigious Public Administration Medal (Silver):

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eptember 2016CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL LTA OFFICERS

WHO WERE CONFERRED THE NATIONAL DAY AWARDS FOR THEIR ExCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO LTA AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE:

Public Administration Medal (Bronze)

Mr Fun Wui SiungDeputy Director Programme Planning Division Safety & Contracts Group

Mdm Tay Bee PengDeputy Director Financial & Management Reporting Division Finance Group

Ms Katherine Ann KrummertDeputy Director Corporate Relations Division Corporate Communications Group

Mr Tham Boon LeongDeputy Director VRL Service Development Division Vehicle Services Group

Mr Lee Eng Joo

1 Deputy Director Civil Construction Team 3 (Downtown Line 3) Division Rail Infrastructure & Expansion Group

Mr Dennis Yeo Theng Yam

Deputy Director Corporate & Revenue Management Systems Division Innovation & Infocomm Technology Group

Commendation Medal

Mdm Ho Kim Huey

Principal Engineer Rolling Stock / Depot Equipment Design Division Rail / Road Systems Engineering Group

Mr Neo Kong YongSenior Project Manager Infrastructure Enhancement Division Rail Infrastructure & Expansion Group

Mr Lim Sun KiatManager Community Partnership (SE) Division Quality Service Manager Office

Mr Tan Meng PhuiSenior Engineer Intelligent Transport Sys Ops Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mr Lim Ah ChweeProject Manager Trackwork Division Rail Infrastructure & Expansion Group

Ms Tan Siew BeeManager Public Transport Quality Division Public Transport Group

Efficiency Medal

Ms Suraiya Haneem Binte Abu Bakar

Senior Admin Executive Road Construction 1 Division Road Projects Group

Mdm Joan Lim Meng Joon

Principal Project Admin Executive Thomson-East Coast Line (CT 6) Division Thomson-East Coast & Cross Island Line Group

Mr Nazli Bin AdnanSenior Admin Executive 1 Commuter & Road Infrastructure Division Infrastructure Design & Engineering Group

Mr Stewart Darren ScottAssistant Manager Bus Licensing Division Public Transport Group

Mr Chin Beng ChooPrincipal Assistant Engineer Road Asset Management Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mdm Saniah Binte SoedarSenior Executive VRL Service Operations Division Vehicle Services Group

Mdm Evelyn Foo Mui LinPersonal Assistant Enterprise Financial Services Division Finance Group

Mdm Tan Joon BuaySupervisor, Registry Customer Services Division Vehicle Services Group

Ms Florence Lee Ah KamPersonal Assistant Directorate-RPJ Division Road Projects Group

Mr Tok Seng KimExecutive Engineer Road Asset Regulation & Licensing Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mdm Lim Guan ChooPrincipal Assistant Engineer Development & Building Control Division Policy & Planning Group

Long Service Medal

Mdm Rohana Bte Ab MajidSenior Executive Customer Services Division Vehicle Services Group

Mdm Premaja d/o MadhavanPrincipal Executive Enforcement Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mr Mohamad Noor Bin AdamPrincipal Operations Executive Intelligent Transport Sys Ops Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Ms Haslinda Bte Mohamed EunosPrincipal Operations Executive Intelligent Transport Sys Ops Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mdm Afidah Bte AriExecutive Administration Services Division Corporate Planning & Development Group

Mdm Junaidah Binte Mohamed Yunus

Senior Admin Assistant Administration Services Division Corporate Planning & Development Group

Ms Choo Eng GeokDeputy Director Road Construction 1 Division Road Projects Group

Ms Ng Lay ChooDeputy Director VRL Service Operations Division Vehicle Services Group

Mr Kamalludin Bin IdrisSenior Principal Enforcement Officer Enforcement Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mdm S IndraniPrincipal Executive Investigations Division Vehicle Services Group

Mr Richard Lam Meng Teck @ Raihaan Lam Meng Teck

Senior Principal Enforcement Officer Enforcement Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mdm Deborah Wong Hia SeeDeputy Director System Development Division Rail / Road Systems Engineering Group

Mr Leng Soon PakManager Road Pricing Projects Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

Mr Wong Chung KentPrincipal Executive Enforcement Division Transportation & Road Operations Group

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Ang Mo Kio:

Singapore’s First Model Walking & Cycling Town

Ang Mo Kio is the first suburb in Singapore to be “converted” into a model walking and cycling town. It is also the first to feature red, dedicated cycling paths.

The new 4km path which loops around Ang Mo Kio Avenues 1, 3 and 8 lets residents walk and cycle to key places like the Ang Mo Kio MRT, swimming complex and Ang Mo Kio Hub.

The Ang Mo Kio walking and cycling network will grow by another 16km over the next three years.

Cycling path networks can already be found in Tampines, Sembawang, Changi-Simei, East Coast,

Top Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, together with Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, marked the completion of Ang Mo Kio Walking and Cycling Town (Phase 1) at the launch ceremony on 9 July 2016.

the Jurong Lake District, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Taman Jurong and Yishun.

More networks are being built around Singapore within and between towns — as well as to the city — to make it easy for people to walk and cycle so Singapore can be a car-lite society.

By the end of this year, the National Parks Board will start work on a 150km Park Connector Network Round Island Route, so cyclists can easily travel around the whole of Singapore.

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WHAT ANG MO KIO RESIDENTS CAN ENJOYThe Ang Mo Kio network boasts special features which were developed in consultation with the residents. These include:

• Dedicated cycling paths (not for pedestrians) that are red

• Cycling paths that go behind bus stops

• Easy-to-read map boards so residents don’t get lost along the path

• A mini “park” complete with a terrarium under the elevated MRT track along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8

• Artworks featured on the columns of the elevated MRT track

• A self-service bicycle station for cyclists to carry out bike maintenance on the go

Top The large outdoor terrarium showcasing plants that can be found in a tropical rainforest.

Bottom Installation of murals on the MRT track columns.

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Private Developers to Cater for Pedestrians and Cyclists

From July 2016, private developers need to incorporate pedestrian and cyclist-friendly provisions such as bicycle parking lots, shower facilities and designated walking and cycling routes when designing buildings such as shopping malls and office complexes.

The authorities will need to approve these Walking and Cycling Plans (WCP) before developers get the construction green light.

While the Government has championed walking and cycling to get around, private developers have now been roped in.

Land Transport Festival 2016

The LTA’s Hampshire Office campus was open to students and the public on Saturday, May 28th 2016, for the Land Transport Festival, in conjunction with National Heritage Board’s Children’s Season. The annual event offers a myriad of fun-filled learning activities so students can get a greater understanding of LTA’s work towards building a sustainable land transport system.

For the first time, the festival featured a CE FaceTime segment where students had the opportunity to learn first-hand about LTA’s plans for Walk Cycle Ride (WCR) SG and share their views with LTA Chief Executive, Mr Chew Men Leong. Topics such as rules and regulations

for cyclists, bus services and expansion of the rail network were raised. Safe cycling was also a key topic of discussion and many agreed on the importance of both cyclists and pedestrians coexisting harmoniously.

The interactive trail at the gallery allowed visitors to embark on a self-exploratory journey via a mobile trail and there was a treasure hunt for the mock-up trains, vintage and new buses along with the Walk Cycle Ride posters.

Many participants indicated it was a memorable experience filled with good wholesome fun and learning and hope to be invited again next year.

This marks the first time that private developers are required to work alongside the Government in realizing the vision to make Singapore a “car-lite” society where walking, cycling and public transport is a way of life.

Left Participants trying on various Personal Mobility Devices at the Land Transport Festival.

Right Students engaging in a dialogue on Walk Cycle Ride SG.

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Creating an underpass has usually meant digging a deep trench along the length of the underpass, and then covering up the surface once the structure was put in place.

This traditional cut-and-cover method does bring with it disruptions and road diversions.

Now, the LTA is deploying a special machine that is capable of digging large, rectangular tunnels.

This rectangular tunnel boring machine, supplied by the China Railway Engineering Equipment Group, is able to bore the underpass tunnel through the earth like an earthworm, with minimal disruption to life above.

Digging Rectangular Tunnels for UnderpassesFor the first time, the LTA is using a machine that can dig rectangular tunnels - perfect for pedestrian underpasses - in a process that is faster, cleaner and less disruptive than past boring machines.

It is being used to create a 150m underpass under Havelock and Zion Road, to the upcoming Havelock MRT station.

While the old cut-and-cover method is four times cheaper, the process takes three to four years. The new machine — which started tunneling in May — will complete the job in six to eight months with less manpower.

The machine will next be deployed to create an underpass at the upcoming Stevens Station.

Left: LTA Project Director Henry Foo explaining how the rectangular tunnel boring machine works.

Top Right: The rectangular tunnel boring machine at the Havelock site.

Bottom Right: Photo of a segment ring. Each ring weighs 55 tons, or about the weight of 20 adult elephants.

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How do the Bus Contracting Model and New Rail Financing Framework compare?

Bus Contracting ModelThe Bus Contracting Model (BCM) kicked in fully on 1 September 2016, after LTA reached agreements with SBS Transit and SMRT Buses for 11 bus packages under the model.

Besides these 11 packages, 3 packages — which make up about 20% of the existing buses — had already been awarded through competitive tendering. Tower Transit started operating the Bulim bus package in May 2016, and Go-Ahead began its operation of the Loyang bus package in September 2016. The third — the Seletar bus package — was put out for tender in June 2016.

In preparation for the transition, LTA has been buying additional buses since 2012 under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme and buying replacement buses since 2015.

To recap, under the BCM, LTA will determine the bus services to be provided and the service standards, and bus operators will bid for the right to operate these services. The operators will be paid fees to operate the services, while fare revenue will be retained by the Government.

New Rail Financing FrameworkThe North-South East-West Lines (NSEWL), Circle Line (CCL) and Bukit Panjang LRT (BPLRT) — currently operated by SMRT — will be transiting to the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF).

Under the previous financing framework, rail operators owned operating assets, such as trains and signalling system, and were responsible for building up, replacing and upgrading the operating assets.

In 2008, the Government announced the NRFF in the Land Transport Master Plan. In 2010, the Rapid Transit Systems Act was amended to implement the NRFF. The NRFF was first implemented in 2011 for the Downtown Line (DTL), operated by SBS Transit. With NRFF, in addition to owning the DTL rail infrastructure such as stations and depots, LTA (instead of SBS Transit) also owns the DTL operating assets and makes decisions to build up, replace or upgrade these assets.

The operator in turn pays an annual Licence Charge for the right and responsibility to operate and maintain the rail line and earn revenue from it. Under the new framework, the Government shares revenue risk with the operator.

Why the changes? Under both of these new frameworks, LTA owns all bus and rail operating and infrastructure assets. The end goal for these two transitions is the same: to deliver better service for commuters and ensure timely capacity expansion, asset replacement and upgrades.