New commercial hubs to ease congestion

Two new commercial belts have been planned to help traffic congestion and bring jobs closer to people’s homes.

Currently, major employment hubs are located in the city and west Singapore, increasing congestion due to residential estates being located in the north and east of the island.

Property Guru reported the new commercial belts, the Southern Waterfront City and the North Coast Innovation Corridor, should be ready in 10 to 15 years. The southern development will stretch from Marina Bay and to Pasir Panjang, while the northern belt will extend from Woodlands to Punggol.

The Cross Island Line and the Thomson Line are also expected to support the new commercial hubs by 2030, and commuters can also drive on the north-south expressway.

The new belts are aimed at managing traffic between residential and employment areas, as well as maximise the use of public transportation in Singapore, Channel News Asia reported.

Currently, public transportation make up 60% of all journeys, with the figure targeted to reach 75%. There are also plans to introduce community buses to help with commuting in during peak hours.

"If people want to change from train to bus, bus to train, train to taxi, it should be very convenient, because people do not like transfers, so that's the most important thing; make it very convenient and also attractive,” Associate Professor Gopinath Menon, of the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, said.