International Construction Law Review
RAIL PROCUREMENT: THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE*
T S LOW, DR ANNE M NETTO AND EUGENE TAN†
INTRODUCTION
The Singapore Government set up the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in September 1995 to spearhead improvements to our land transport system. The LTA’s vision is to provide Singapore with a world class land transport system and its mission is: “To provide a quality, integrated and efficient land transport system which meets the needs and expectations of Singaporeans, supports economic and environmental goals, and provides value for money.”
The 1996 White Paper sets out how the Authority intends to achieve its mission, its transport vision for Singapore, its operating philosophy, and the initiatives it will undertake in the short and long term.
Public transport is and will always be the major mode of transport. Our public transport strategy is based on a hierarchy of modes to serve the different needs:
- (a) The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) will serve the heaviest corridors of traffic.
- (b) Light Rapid Transit (LRT) or Automatic Guided Transit System as it is commonly known in the West, will serve as feeders to the MRT network, and link commercial and high density residential corridors where there is sufficient ridership.
- (c) Buses will continue to be a major mode of transport to serve the lighter traffic corridors, as feeders, and also trunk connections which are not ready to have MRT/LRT coverage.
- (d) Taxis to provide a more personalised service.
The development of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Plan aims to expand the existing rail network to become the primary public transport mode carrying a high percentage of trips, particularly work trips. The RTS Plan takes into account the existing development and urbanisation of the island and future development patterns. These are:
* A revised version of a paper presented at a conference on Building Railways, London, September 2001.
† T S Low is the Deputy Chief Executive of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore. Dr Anne Magdaline Netto is an Assistant Professor at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore and Eugene Tan is an Assistant Manager, Policy Department, Land Transport Authority of Singapore.
[2002
The International Construction Law Review
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