Sheltered Linkways for Residential Estates with Larger Elderly Population
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng’s inquiry regarding the criteria for constructing sheltered linkways away from major transport nodes and whether residential estates with high elderly populations receive favorable consideration. Minister for Transport S Iswaran replied that while the Land Transport Authority (LTA) prioritizes high trip-generating clusters, requests for other locations are considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with relevant agencies. These assessments account for pedestrian traffic volume, the specific needs of vulnerable commuters such as seniors, and the potential to link with existing infrastructure. LTA coordinates with various providers, including the Housing and Development Board, Town Councils, and private management corporations, to ensure greater overall sheltered connectivity for residents. This policy prioritizes connecting public residential estates to key amenities like healthcare and eldercare institutions to maximize commuter benefits across the expanding network.
Transcript
65 Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Transport (a) under what circumstances will sheltered linkways be approved for construction if they are not close to major transport nodes and key amenities; and (b) whether residential estates that consist largely of elderly profiles will be favourably considered for sheltered linkways to be constructed.
Mr S Iswaran: Covered linkways are built by various parties including the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Town Councils (TCs) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). LTA’s priority is to benefit as many commuters as possible, including seniors. Hence, covered linkways are constructed near high trip-generating clusters so that commuters are connected between major transport nodes and key amenities such as schools, libraries, community clubs, healthcare and eldercare institutions. Over the years, the network of covered linkways built by LTA has expanded significantly to over 200 kilometres today.
Moving forward, LTA will continue to focus on covered connectivity near high trip-generating clusters to serve commuters’ needs at public residential estates. Covered linkway requests sent to LTA which are not close to major transport nodes and key amenities are considered in consultation with other agencies on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered include pedestrian traffic, the needs of vulnerable pedestrians, and the possibility of connecting to the covered linkway network provided by HDB, Town Councils and private organisations, including Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs), to provide commuters with greater overall sheltered connectivity.