Decentralisation & Economic Activities

23 March 2020

Decentralisation was first proposed in Concept Plan 1991, which mapped out a constellation of 4 Regional Centres, 6 Sub-Regional Centres and 7 Fringe Centres radiating out from the City Centre. Today, Tampines and Jurong Gateway have become established Regional Centre of the East and West Region respectively and Woodlands is fast taking shape as the economic hub of the North. Decentralisation and transit-oriented developments are key strategies for sustainable development as it reduces daily commute by providing amenities that were originally provided in the City Centre and alternative jobs closer to homes. The increase in activity generated at these centres contributes to a more vibrant urban lifestyle and diversity at these heartlands.[1] The reduction in travelling will decrease the load of the public transport system and will also minimize the amount of carbon footprint emitted.

The Land Use Plan 2030 proposed to upgrade Toa Payoh Town Centre into a Sub-Regional Centre and Alexandra into a Fringe Centre to supplement the existing Constellation. It is a great idea to enhance these places as they are already established business hubs and have easy access to comprehensive public transport system. Beyond 2030, there is potential to develop another Fringe Centre at Great World (after completion of Thomson – East Coast Line) and more Sub-Regional Centres at Bedok (potential to redevelop and intensify industrial land and former sports site opposite Town Centre), Choa Chu Kang (interchange of North-South, Jurong Regional and Bukit Panjang LRT lines) and Yishun.

For Decentralisation to materialize, it is essential to have a comprehensive public transport system and to constantly improve the existing public transport system. Furthermore, integrating land use and transport planning is necessary to optimise land utilization and value; ensure suburbs are well-connected to commercial centres and encourage people to switch from car owners to public transport users.1 In fact, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) is a catalyst for urban development, because the MRT network contributes in shaping the urban development pattern, provides opportunities for strategic integration and intensification.[2]

As dictated in the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 (LTMP40), planners aim to make public transport journeys more seamless, convenient and time-saving by increasing rail coverage; expanding active mobility network and improve reliability of public transport.[3] Building on the LTMP40, there is still potential to construct more radial and orbital MRT lines to increase rail coverage and close existing gaps. These gaps can be easily identified through ez-link transaction data and pedestrian counts.

For example, there is strong potential to construct a North Shore Line to connect Pasir Ris, Punggol, Seletar, Simpang and Woodlands. (Pasir Ris, Woodlands LRT link under study, 1996) Serving the North Coast Innovation Corridor, the North Shore Line will significantly reduce the passenger load for buses plying between these areas, hence reducing the traffic volume along Tampines Expressway. New radial lines like Seletar Line, Holland Line, West Coast Line and Paya Lebar Line can provide direct rail connection from new development areas (e.g. Tengah, Defu and PLAB) and areas not served by existing MRT lines (e.g. Seletar, Sengkang West, Whampoa, Sunset Way, Ulu Pandan, Tanglin Village and Bukit Merah Town Centre) to the City. New in-fill stations can also be added to existing lines to improve accessibility.

References
1. Chow, C., Chia, J., & Zhan, M. (2018). Integrating Land Use & Mobility: Supporting Sustainable Growth. Singapore: Centre for Liveable Cities.
2. Guo, R. (2016). Urban Redevelopment: From Urban Squalor to Global City. Singapore: Centre for Liveable Cities.
3. Land Transport Master Plan 2040. (2019, June 27). Retrieved March 23, 2020, from https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/about-lta/what-we-do/ltmp2040.html

[This is an essay submitted for "DEP5111 Planning Technologies" module on 23 March 2020 for AY2019/2020 Semester 2. "DEP5111 Planning Technologies" is offered by National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Architecture (DoA) Master of Urban Planning (MUP).]

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