1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Transportation Planning is vital as it conquers the planning for a connection system either between a small scale area or a larger region through the management and design of movements. It is a continuous process of managing the transport system where involves a series of process. In developing a town, city or region both human and goods need a good mobility facilities so that there is good connectivity of a development. Besides, through the planning of transportation system, the development of a region will come to an advance naturally. This is because of the character of the access and circulation which create the structure and land use pattern of a city or a region. In short, transportation planning
In addition, Transportation Planning approach attempts to foresee the modes of transportation as the major of transportation modes and defining the demand of future transportation infrastructure to get a solution towards a sustainability transportation management. This will lead to the planning of the transportation facilities which will considering both for non-motorized and motorized modes of transportation. At the same time, the Transportation
2
Planning system will encourages high mobility of non-motorize and reduce the mobility of motorized road users which happens by increasing the efficiency of non-motorized road facilities with support of public transport system. Therefore, Transportation Planning provides high opportunity in promoting good transportation facilities of a city.
Rapid development results the increase of needs for livable living and workplace. The urbanization, urban trend of living and the design of current urban structure are the factors which leads to the dependency rate on the use of private vehicle. Johor Bahru is one of the districts in Malaysia which facing rapid growth of development after the main capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The uncontrolled land use development creates sprawling over its City Centre and design an unregulated transport system. This issue can be related to what understand by Minhans and Moghaddasi (2013) as during the early 1960s, when Malaysia experiencing rapid development of economic, there is failure in identifying the importance of public transportation planning. As a result public transport service still lags behind in extent as well as in quality terms when compared to the ASEAN counterparts such as Singapore as well as Hong Kong and Japan (Minhans et al., 2013). Therefore, what is currently happen is actually due to the lack of practice on the transportation planning system.
1.1
Case Study of Singapore
Singapore or Singapura in Sanskrit term which officially known as the Republic of Singapore. The Republic of Singapore is the world's only sovereign only sovereign city-state which strategically located in the Southeast the Southeast part of Asia. The Asia. The strategic location promotes the country to be one of the major trade nodes of port which then creating a good economic base from the exports and refining imported
3
goods. It is also well connected to Malaysia by both north and west part as it is well accessible by the Johor – Singapore Singapore Causeway in the north, and the Tuas Second Link in the west part.
Singapore is an advance and well planned country which clearly seen from the management of land uses, connectivity and accessibility pattern and the economics structure. There elements of sustainability structuring the land use, accessibility and economic pattern of Singapore. Due to its geographical structure which is as an Island, Singapore has a very limited space it need a good management of land use and pattern. The concept towards a sustainable city describe through the development of self- contained living area. It is one of a good solution to help people to reduce the cost of living where they can save the cost of transportation as well as managing to reduce the use dependency on motorized mode of transportation. Therefore, Singapore has a very good system in terms of transportation planning.
4
CHAPTER 2
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE
Transportation system is always a vital part in the developing a region as it is about a connection and transportation planning is about making connection. Accessibilities and networking plays an important role too in the development of economics and physicals of Singapore. Historically, the development of current modern Singapore was started back then in 1918s due to its strategic geographical location in the Southeast the Southeast part of Asia as a node for the trading. This uniqueness hence, creating a good economic accessibility of this country. The development of economic structure during 1960’s was then driven the rapid growth of Singapore. Experiencing poor transportation management system is a common issue faced by developing country and this is also what happened to this republic country. Traffic problems in the 1960s were typically those experienced in many developing cities: poor traffic management and serious congestion in the city centre, inadequate and inefficiently operated public transport services, poor infrastructure maintenance, poor driver discipline and enforcement resulting in high road accidents (Chin, 1998). Therefore, they need a better management and solutions to the problems hence creating ideas on implementing transportation planning and policies.
5
Compared to Malaysia which realized a bit later about the importance of transportation planning, Singapore started understanding on transportation planning back in 1938. This is confirmed by Chin (1998) in his journal on the Urban Transport Planning in Singapore that No formal transport study was reported until 1938 when the Traffic Conditions Committee was formed “to consider the present traffic conditions in the town of Singapore including parking and the trial of traffic offences and to make recommendations for their improvements” (Trimmer, 1938, para. 22). Then, Chin (1998) also identified that there are three periods developments of transportation planning in Singapore which are 1960’s, 1960’s to 1980’s and the vision-driven vision-driven transportation planning era of 1990’s. 1990’s. Realizing the vital of achieving sustainable development, the Singapore Government takes an initiative by setting up the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 1995. Current transportation planning and policies implemented by the government of Singapore are the Land Transport Master plan 2013 which designed to continuously building up and improving the land transportation system to meet the needs of populations.
2.1
Transportation Planning Policies in Singapore
Urban transportation planning and policies approach in Singapore implemented by the Government of Singapore, Land Transport Authority Singapore’s due to arising of transportation issues during the era of rapid economic development. The approaches used by LTA includes building up and improving the land transportation system, reorganizing and improving the public transportation, management of traffic and the planning of integrated transport and land use.
6
2.1.1 Vehicle Ownership Policy
The
successful
economic
policies
resulted
in
the
stability
of
socioeconomic structure of Singapore which then leads to the affordability of owning private vehicle. This Rapid growth pattern arise the vital of transportation planning due to various traffic issues and problems which grow together. Realizing on their limited space for development they have to avoid on planning for the new road networking system or expansion. Therefore, vehicle ownership policy was introduced as an alternative to the traffic problems.
Vehicle ownership policy comprises of additional registration fee (ARF), road tax structure and petrol tax rate. The additional registration fee (ARF) road tax structure and petrol tax rate was introduced as a result of the increased in the import duty for cars for the open market value (OMV). The OMV of a vehicle is determined by Singapore customs which equivalent to the price of the car, including freight and other incidental charges. The ARF is applied for each new car. However, new system then introduced which is preferential additional registration fee (PARF) if the car is de-registered before ten years to encourage owners to replace old car with the new ones. The Annual road tax on vehicles, applied based on per cc. of the engine capacity in which depending on the each vehicle class by engine capacity. The structure and systems is slightly change by time in making sure the control of vehicle volume growth on the road.
Vehicle quota system (VQS) was also implemented in 1990 as one of the mechanism to control the growth of vehicle ownership. The VQS scheme introduces the concept of car ownership title which is certificate of entitlement (COE). It is compulsory for new car buyers to have COE. This certificate will valid for ten years. The cost of the CEO will be determined based on the engine size category of vehicles.
7
2.1.2
Area licensing Scheme (ALS)
The area licensing scheme (ALS) comes with the Motor Vehicles (Restricted Zone and Area Licensing) Rules 1975. The scheme focusing on the Central Business District (CBD) where the area declared as a Restricted Zone (RZ) for private vehicles during the peak hour. There is a concept of authorized license vehicles or vehicles which carry at least 4 persons only can enter the RZ. This is showing that this scheme also promoting car-pooling concept in order to minimize the numbers of vehicles on road.
The ALS also was designed with less impact to the commuters group where the park-and-ride system (PRS) was also introduced together. This is providing alternative to this group of people to enter the CBD. Besides, this system helps in reducing traffic congestion tension in CBD in which the number of vehicle entering the zone is reduced.
2.1.3
Public Transport Operations
Public transportation system is very important in maintaining the stability of the control on the traffic and transportation problems. The development of public transportation planning usually grows with the number of population in the region. Before 1980’s the public transport mode provided in Singapore is very limited to the bus service and taxi service only. However, in 1983 the Mass Rapid Transit service (MRT) was introduced. Then, based on the strategic transport plans 1991 the public transport was enhanced by the extension of mass transport system to the region of intense developments. Light rapid transit (LRT) was introduced to cover the less intense development areas plus the provision of ferries service along the coastal area.
8
2.1.4
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
The electronic road pricing (ERP) system started in the 1990’s to 1990’s to replace the manual ALS system which seems to be less effective. This system aimed to manage the congestion problems especially within the CBD zone especially during the peak hours. There are three components in the ERP which are the Invehicle units (IU), the charge point equipment at the roadside and a remote central computer system. The introduction of ERP will result in a more balance ratio of ownership cost to usage cost. It is expected that the current ownership to usage cost ratio of 70:30 will eventually be made closer to 50:50 (Chin, 1998).
2.1.5
Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2013
The LTMP 2013 was designed based on the reviews and results and publics feedback from the implementation of previous LTMPs. The publics suggesting a more comprehensive public transportation network with a better MRT and bus service quality. Besides the publics also request for a better design of walking and cycling facilities to make sure of conformity and safety of pedestrian. The LTMP 2013 aims for the concept of “People-Centred “People-Centred Land Transport System”. This master plan will be working on three th ree most important centred focusing on providing better service, making more connections and designing livable and inclusive community. Diagram 2.1 shows the conceptual diagram of People-Centred Land Transport System.
9
Diagram 2.1: Conceptual Diagram of People-Centred People -Centred Land Transport System.
10
CHAPTER 3
IMPACT OF PLANNING AND POLICIES
The development and implementation of certain planning system and policies will surely giving impact to a region either it is affected in of positive way or negatively. However, transportation planning is a continuous process in building up and improving the system of transportation in achieving the sustainable transport system which can cater the needs of current population without compromising the future needs.
The scarcity of land due to the geographical situation of Singapore lead to a proper management of land use planning with the integration of transportation system. Out of the 640 km2 of total land area, 12% are dedicated for roads and other facilities to support the road infrastructure (chin, 1998). Comparing to land developed for housing there is not so much different as there is 13% out of total land was used for residential purposes. Then, as what reported in the LTMP 2013, the road comprises 12% of and housing 14 percent. There is increase in the total land uses for housing but not for the road. This is showing that there is good in term of road networking system planning in which the government can
11
maintain the percentage use of land for the development of road through the VOP scheme, ALS system, public transportation management and ERP scheme.
The implementation of transportation planning and policies also results to a self-contained concept design. The development starts to go vertical in order to save the space for development as well as preventing the use of space to develop more roads networking system. The concept of self-contained living area provides people with good access to their needs where they live, work and get access to leisure within an area. The facilities and amenities also well designed to be within the area to cater the needs of the people. This is means that the nonmotorized mode of transportation occupancy is increase where people can just walk or cycling to their destination as everything is allocated within walking distance. This concept in short helps to reduce the cost of living as the cost of transportation is can be reduce.
12
CHAPTER 4
APPLICATION OF TRANSPORTATION POLICIES OF SINGAPORE IN JOHOR BAHRU
Johor
Bahru
District
is
located
within
the
Iskandar
Malaysia
Development Region. This development region corridor brings more focused on development of economic and infrastructure to an established urban conurbation located at the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia. As a developing region, Johor Bahru experiencing serious traffic problems problems due to the high impact Iskandar Malaysia development area.
4.1
Inefficient of Public transportation services
Rapid growth of land use and economy increase the tendency of urban congestion. Urban congestion is leads to urban sprawling which then the traffic and transportation network issue came up. Sprawling can cause poor management of road networking due to unsure land use distribution in increase
13
in the urban population as well. This will cause the unregulated public transportation network which cause ineffective in the public transportation service. Basically, it can be said that unregulated public transportation service happen because of the mismanagement of land use.
As what implemented in Singapore, the Singapore’s Government at the first stage manage the distribution of land use where they manage to prevent the urban area from sprawling. They are using the concept of compact city by growing vertically so that they manage to cater the increase in urban population. At the current stage it is observed that Johor Bahru City Centre is also growing with high rises. Then in order to manage the unregulated public transportation service problems, the design of public transportation mass must be clearly aimed to cater the needs of population. The variety of public transportation mode choices in Singapore started from walking outside their door, cycling or walking on well design pavements, taking train or bus to the destination showing the efficiency of system and this should be applied in Johor Bahru. The system should not only accouter the urban population, but also the commuters and a better and efficient public transportation management can be achieve.
4.2
Traffic Congestion in Johor Bahru City Centre
As a developing region, Johor Bahru City Centre experiencing traffic congestion. This is due to the increase of population into the city centre where there is agglomeration of Jobs opportunities. People tent to concentrate towards the city centre where the commuters will have to travel to the City Centre every day to work. However, the inefficient service of public transportation system forcing people to drive their own vehicles to work as it is more convenient. This
14
condition results to serious towards Johor Bahru City Centre especially during the peak hour.
Singapore was once experience traffic congestion as well. Traffic congestion can be resolved with good public transportation system where this application can reduce the dependency on the private vehicle. When people satisfy with the service they will choose public transport rather than facing the traffic congestion every day.
Secondly, the road pricing system may be suitable to be applied in Johor Bahru where people need to pay when entering certain areas. This will make people think twice when they want to drive their own private vehicle. The s ystem will allow the control of cars volume on the road hence, reduce the traffic congestion problems.
Thirdly, traffic congestion can be control by the management of parking which can helps reducing the undesirable impacts on parking demand. The pay parking system are applicable in Johor Bahru in which the car uses need to pay when they want to park their vehicle. Free or inexpensive parking system alow overused long-term or all-day parker. This will limits the parking spaces for the other uses. Therefore, pay parking is efficient in controlling the car volume on the road as well as reducing traffic congestion problem.
15
CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION
Transportation Planning is vital as the approaches will foresee the modes of transportation and defining the demand of future transportation infrastructure. Urban transportation planning and policies approach in Singapore designed to continuously building up and improving the land transportation system to meet the needs of populations. Urban transportation transportation planning and policies applied in Singapore leads to a proper management of land uses where the city structure is basically pattern up with proper management of road networking with minimalist land uses on road. Then the land use pattern significantly change the way Singaporeans live which is towards a sustainable way of life. In relation to what have been implemented in Singapore in managing the public transportation system and controlling the road congestion problems, a few policies and schemes are applicable and suitable to change Johor Baru towards a better transportation management.
16
CHAPTER 6
REFERENCES
Anil Minhans, Ali Moghaddasi. 2013. Technology Journal of Transport Cost Analysis of City Bus and Private car Usage in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru.
Chin Hoon Chor. 1998. Urban Transport Planning in Singapore. National University of Singapore.
Lee Kuan Yew. 2013. The Evaluation of Public Transport Policy in Singapore. School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
Land Transport Masterplan 2013. Singapore
Singapore. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_in_Singapore
