Criteria for Installing Elevators for Overhead Pedestrian Bridges and Within Train Stations

17 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the criteria for installing elevators for (i) overhead pedestrian bridges and (ii) within train stations to street level; and (b) whether elevators at such locations can be installed for neighbourhoods which have a higher percentage of elderly residents.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Khaw Boon Wan): All MRT and LRT stations are barrier-free. This means that, among other things, they will have to provide lifts from the platforms to street level.

As for providing elevators at overhead bridges, LTA is giving priority to those bridges that are near MRT stations, bus interchanges, healthcare institutions, welfare homes, homes for the aged and special needs schools. LTA will also prioritise those located in neighbourhoods with a higher percentage of elderly residents.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): I would like to thank the Minister for confirming that elevators will also be approved for neighbourhoods that have a higher number of elderly residents. At Farrer Park MRT station, there is only one exit that has access from the basement to the street level. This has caused quite a bit of inconvenience for my residents who are wheel-chair bound.

For instances like these, could there also be a full study of barrier-free accessibility for these areas? Also, is it possible for the Minister to consider whether for neighbourhoods with a higher percentage of elderly, there could be a full package of support covering traffic lights, duration of traffic lights, distance of traffic lights from the residences and also the overhead bridge lifts as well? It would be good if there is a full package that could be studied and implemented for these neighbourhoods.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Madam, the short answer is yes. I group all these efforts under the first-mile-last-mile connectivity programme. This is one of my top priorities for the next couple of years because, if we want to push our car-lite strategy, our public transport must be top-class. Besides railways, their accessibility and reliability, a big part of this will be first-mile-last-mile connectivity. How do we bring a commuter from his or her home to where he or she wants to go? Barrier-free access for both young and old and, especially, the vulnerable, would be a key part.

As for the specific question on Farrer Park MRT station, I would have to check because I am not familiar with the station. Although I have been taking trains, I have not visited all the stations yet. Farrer Park, we will have to take a look.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Mdm Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for clarifying that priority will be given for areas where there are more elderly residents. I have spoken on this topic for the past three years in Parliament, asking for an elevator to be built in my ward. I have written to the Minister personally. May I ask the Minister would there be a timeline within which I could get a reply before the elderly grow even more elderly and may not make it?

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Yes, Madam, I recall hearing the conversation between the Member and my predecessor about his needs in Mountbatten ward. I thought that Mr Lui Tuck Yew at that time had already responded to some of his requests. As to the specific recent requests, we have to take a look.

The issue is this: first-mile-last-mile connectivity is definitely my priority. At the same time, there are so many overhead bridges. I have to set priorities and the programme is also subject to availability of funds that I hope I can get from a sympathetic Minister for Finance. We will roll it out as quickly as we can because this is important, especially as our citizens become more elderly. This is a very important part of how to make sure that their quality of life and day-to-day moving around can be enhanced. The alternative is, the seniors get stuck and do not move around as much. This will have huge implications for my previous Ministry, MOH.

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Non-Constituency Member): Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, when he mentioned the higher percentage of elderly, would the criteria also be extended to private estates where there is a higher percentage of elderly as well?

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We do not make any distinction between public or private estates; we are all Singaporeans. Public estates are more compact and, so, the number of people affected would be a lot bigger. Often, in some of the projects, the HDB estates get priority, not because we favour public versus private estates, but it is because their sheer needs are heavier.