7 bus interchanges, including Bedok and Toa Payoh, to be more accessible, family-friendly by 2027
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An artist’s impression of Ang Mo Kio bus interchange after upgrading works, including new lit signage.
PHOTO: LTA
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SINGAPORE – Seven bus interchanges across Singapore will be upgraded to provide more family-friendly facilities, such as baby care rooms, at a cost of about $105 million.
The interchanges in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Clementi, Sengkang, Serangoon and Toa Payoh will undergo upgrading from August, with works expected to be completed by 2027, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Aug 16.
The authority told The Straits Times that work has begun at Ang Mo Kio bus interchange and will start progressively at the other interchanges. The works will enhance accessibility, provide passenger-friendly features, and improve staff facilities, LTA said.
When completed, the seven interchanges will feature priority queue zones for seniors, more seats, passenger care rooms, as well as baby care and family rooms.
Wheelchair-accessible toilets, tactile guided paths and Braille signs on handrails will be added, LTA said.
The lighting and air-conditioning systems at the interchanges will be replaced and upgraded.
Staff facilities such as staff lounges and passenger service offices will be refurbished.
An artist’s impression of Toa Payoh interchange after upgrading works, including a new priority queue zone.
PHOTO: LTA
Bus operations will not be affected during the upgrading of the interchanges, LTA said. To minimise the impact of the works on passengers, those affecting boarding and alighting berths will be carried out one berth at a time, with measures taken to minimise noise and dust.
LTA said it will also work with public transport operators to install wayfinding signs to guide commuters.
The improvements at the seven interchanges are similar to the features at newer bus interchanges, such as those in Jurong Town Hall and Tengah, LTA said.
Financial consultant Faith Lim, 37, said the toilets at Toa Payoh bus interchange are “not very friendly”.
The mother of two said the toilets there are generally dirty and lacking facilities such as child-size sinks and toilets. She added that parents would welcome a separate diaper-changing room, instead of having to use the pull-down changing tables currently available in most toilets.
Having noticed that some wheelchair users struggle to manoeuvre their wheelchairs into toilets, retired driver Sng Ah Lai, 81, said that wheelchair-accessible toilets with wider entrances are what such users need.
At least two public transport users said it would be great to have more seats at interchanges.
Part-time kitchen helper Jean Teng spoke to ST while she was waiting to board a bus at the Bedok interchange with her five-month-old granddaughter. The 65-year-old said there are currently not enough seats at the interchange.
Ms Lena Hamid, 72, said having more seats would be especially helpful for elderly folk.
The part-time library worker said her legs ache after standing for long periods, but there are times she cannot sit down to rest while waiting for her bus because the seats at the Bedok interchange are fully occupied.
“Sometimes I have to stand, you know? My legs are a problem, but I cannot tell people to get up, as it is very rude (to do so),” she added.
LTA called a tender for the upgrading works
The seven interchanges opened between 2004 and 2014.
An artist’s impression of Boon Lay interchange after upgrading works, including a new tactile system.
PHOTO: LTA
