Enhancing the pedestrian experience in Singapore : a closer look at MRT transfers and CBD walkability

Abstract

In the small but highly developed city-state of Singapore, transportation interventions are primarily geared towards getting people to work efficiently, and finer aspects with regards to walkability had not received enough attention. In the area of work-related walking, two aspects have been identified for possible enhancement. First, with Singapore aggressively expanding her Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, more MRT transfers will result in future. The stress of transfers has been widely researched to influence modal shifts and psychological behavior, which in turn affects work performance and family relations -- walking negativity in transfers is arguably as critical, if not more so than waiting. This thesis proposes using design enhancements to improve the walking experience when transferring between MRT lines that can be typically extended distances to walk. These include the use of landscaping, advertisements and colors to ameliorate the transfers that commuters have to do ad nauseum every day. Another issue of walking in work-related trips is the inadequacy of walkability in downtown CBD where there is a high concentration of office workers who demand short walking trips. An enhanced pedestrianization scheme with shelter and cooling is proposed to address the walkability needs with respect to Singapore's hot, humid and rainy tropical weather. Other issues of walkability that are important and slated for further study include the lack of pedestrian priority in residential estates and the dichotomy between planning for both leisure walking and walking as a means of traveling.