TT:
APETT's concerns of the proposed Trinidad Rapid
Rail Project (
II )
Trinidad
Express
Port
Spain
Petroleumworld.com
09 10 06
The
Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad
and Tobago (APETT) has expressed its concerns regarding
the Government's proposed Trinidad Rapid Rail Project.
The following is the last in a two part series prepared
by the group.
It
is useful to compare ourselves with an island state
with a world-wide reputation for efficiency of its
transportation system, and its excellent public
transport services such as Singapore. Singapore
with its overall area of 693 square km. (or about
twice the size of Tobago) is only 42km from east
to west and 23 km from north to south. At the end
of 2004, with a population of 4.4 million, there
were 730,000 motor vehicles, of which 420,000 are
cars. Car ownership is therefore about one car for
10 persons.
In
1972, seven years after its independence, Singapore
produced its first transportation plan. There were
four key elements in its transport strategy:
1. To integrate transportation planning with land-use
planning to minimise the need to travel
2.
To develop a good road network and harness technology
to maximise its function
3.
To manage vehicle ownership and usage
4.
To improve quality of public transport service as
a choice alternative to the car
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) of the Ministry
of Transport (MOT) spearheads land transport development,
through adoption of the above four-pronged strategy.
Singapore has an efficient and reliable public transport
system. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, Light
Rail Transit (LRT) system, buses and taxis provide
services covering the entire island at reasonable
fares. The Public Transport Council (PTC) - another
statutory board under the MOT, regulates bus routes
and fares of the rapid transit system.
In
Singapore today, under the administration and regulation
of the two statutory bodies of the MOT, buses form
the foundation of the public transport system. Buses
carry 3 million passengers daily, MRT 1.2 million,
and taxis, 1 million. Together, the public transport
system carries about 63 per cent of the total daily
trips. In T&T, in the East West Corridor, public
transport carries 40 per cent of the total daily
traffic, down from 60 per cent nine years ago.
Singapore
recognised quite early that people could be encouraged
to leave their cars at home only if public transport
offered them a service close to that offered by
the car. Two large bus undertakings operate a fleet
of 3,300 buses providing 240 services. The bus companies
charge affordable fares and operate without direct
subsidies from government. The bus operators provide
a wide range of services, from basic trunk and feeder
services to express and niche services. Comfortable
bus shelters are provided with seats, lights, bus
service information and public telephones. Many
of the more popular bus shelters are linked by covered
pedestrian ways to adjacent land developments.
The
MRT was introduced in Singapore in 1987, after many
years of planning under the guidance of the LTA
and PTC. The LRT was introduced in 1999. In other
words, they started incrementally by first putting
the institutional structure in place, and inculcating
the appropriate institutional culture.
APETT urges the GOTT to hold on further action aimed
at implementing the TRRP until a proper Comprehensive
Urban Area Transportation Planning Study confirms
that this project, as conceived, is the best option
for obtaining stated goals. Central to these goals
is the minimization of environmental degradation
as well as the assurance that the transportation
sector services the needs of the society with regard
to the movement of goods and people in a safe and
cost-effective manner.
For further information please contact Mark François,
President APETT, 623-0789 or 680-3825
Trinidad Express
Wednesday, September 6th 2006
Copyright
©2006 Trinidad Express . All Rights Reserved.
