$700 million boost to better connect commuters to transport nodes

The government will spend close to $700 million to make transport more accessible, elderly friendly and conducive for commuters.

The plans mapped out in the new Land Transport Master plan, were announced by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew today.

One of the new initiatives - Walk2Ride - will make it easier for commuters to walk to MRT stations.

The Land Transport Authority will build sheltered linkways within a 400-metre radius from all existing MRT stations, compared to the current radius of 200 metres. 

Mr Lui elaborates.

"LTA will also link up developments within a 200-metre radius of all bus interchanges, LRT stations and high-usage bus shelters. This we will know, is a significant expansion of our current plans which only provide sheltered linkways from MRT stations and bus stops to schools and healthcare facilities within 200 metres."

In all, some 200 kilometres of linkways will be added islandwide by 2018.

The project is expected to cost some $330 million and will begin from 2014. 

More pedestrian overhead bridges will also become more elderly and wheel-chair friendly. 

$60 million will be spent to install lifts on some 40 bridges from 2014.

Another $300 million will be spent on installing some 20 kilometres of noise barriers along elevated MRT tracks- where noise levels have exceeded the National Environment Agency's guideline of 67 decibels.. 

Residents living close to MRT viaducts such as living in Yuhua and Jurong and those in Simei, Marsiling and Dover can expect noise levels to be perceptibly reduced by about five to 10 decibels. 

LTA intends to start installing the barriers from the end this year and complete them by 2020.