Is this a good idea?

[Scb11980]

Will this result in less Singapore drivers driving to JB for shopping, eating and etc?

Will business (retail and eatery) be affected in Singapore?

Will it clog our roads?

 

 

Making progress on S'pore-JB transport links

Initial steps to develop the Rapid Transit System Link get underway

 

11 May 2012

Business Times

GOOD progress has been made to boost connectivity between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia as initial steps to develop the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link between Singapore and Johor Baru take place.

 

The Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia, which met yesterday in Johor Baru for its ninth working meeting, announced that Phase 1 of the architectural and engineering consultancy study for the RTS has begun and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

 

The tender to carry out the study was awarded by Malaysia's Land Public Transport Commission and Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) on May 2 to the consortium of AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd, AECOM Perunding Sdn Bhd and SA Architects Sdn Bhd.

 

The study aims to determine the technical parameters for the RTS in order to achieve a convenient and cost-effective system that is well-integrated with public transport services on both sides.

 

At the end of the first phase of the study, the consultants will develop a broad concept of the RTS Link.

 

This process will see them presenting options on the design of the track alignment, the stations, the customs and immigration facilities/buildings and detailed architectural and engineering designing to the JMC, an LTA spokesman told BT. The JMC will then decide on the option to be further studied in Phase 2.

 

The second phase of the study, which will involve a more detailed engineering design study phase, will take up to 18 months, according to the LTA spokesman, and if all goes according to plan, the engineering and development of the project could begin as soon as mid-2014 once the entire study is complete.

 

The land transport authorities of both countries also said yesterday that with effect from June 1, commuters taking cross- border taxis would be able to board and alight anywhere on the domestic leg of the journey.

 

At present, cross-border taxis of Singapore and Malaysia are allowed to pick up and drop off commuters at two designated terminals - Ban San Street terminal in Singapore and the Pasar Bakti terminal in Johor Baru.

 

With the changes to rules coming in place, passengers taking a Singapore cross-border taxi to Malaysia can board or alight anywhere in Singapore and vice versa if the commuter is taking a Malaysian cross-border taxi.

 

However, the rules of boarding or alighting a taxi remain for the non-domestic leg of the journey. That is, a commuter taking a Singapore cross-border taxi will still need to board and alight at the designated terminal in Malaysia, which is the Pasar Bakti terminal.

 

Similarly, a commuter taking a Malaysian cross- border taxi here will have to board or alight at the Ban San Street terminal.

 

The change in rules will also lead to changes in the fare structure for cross-border taxis.

 

Currently, passengers taking a taxi from the Ban San Street terminal to the Pasar Bakti terminal pay $40 per taxi while the return journey costs RM60 (about S$24) per taxi. That fare will stay for commuters travelling between the two terminals and changes will only apply if the boarding or alighting on the domestic leg of the journey is done anywhere other than the designated terminals.

 

For instance, a taxi will cost $55 if it is taken from any location in Singapore, to the Pasar Bakti terminal, other than the Ban San Street terminal and Changi or Seletar airports.

 

If it is taken from Changi or Seletar airports, the taxi fare will be $75 and if a passenger is commuting from the Pasar Bakti terminal to anywhere in Singapore, except the Ban San Street terminal but including Changi Airport, the fare will be $55.

 

For Malaysian cross-border taxis, a taxi taken anywhere in Johor Baru to the Ban San Street terminal will cost RM80 per taxi, while it will cost RM100 per taxi if it is taken from Senai airport, the Johor Premium Outlet, Kulaijaya, Gelang Patah, Pekan Nanas, Ulu Tiram or Pasir Gudang to the terminal here.

 

Besides progress on connectivity, the JMC yesterday also adopted the terms of reference for the newly formed work group on industrial cooperation, which will focus on facilitating high value-added projects in the manufacturing and services sectors which include among others advanced materials manufacturing, electrical and electronics, food processing and creative services.

 

The meeting was co-chaired by Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Malaysia Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, and Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore's Minister for National Development. Also in attendance were Johor Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman and Singapore's Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew.

 

 

[TheRationalVoice]

 

 

Sounds good to me.

 

Prefer a bridge be built between Batam and Singapore.

 

[Poker]

Sounds good to me.

 

Prefer a bridge be built between Batam and Singapore.

 

to increase birth rate ?

[Donut]

to increase birth rate ?

 

Plus HIV rates..........

[Poker]

Plus HIV rates..........

 

maybe all the long lost bro/sis all come find you also

[I-LOVE-CARS]

to increase birth rate ?

 

[laugh] but cannot one lah, how far must the built the bridge

 

[TheRationalVoice]

to increase birth rate ?

 

 

Don't follow. How would that be possible? Kindly elaborate.

[TheRationalVoice]

OIC. You referring to sin city.

I do not think another form of link with Indonesia will increase 'birth rate', bearing in mind links already exist. I would like to drive somewhere other than Malaysia, and that is impossible. In europe, all countries are connected and you can easily drive from one country to another, and I did so with much joy. Frankly, I am sick of driving up to Malaysia...same old stuff over and over again...I would like to drive my car up to Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia to explore some of their incredibly unique culture (such as flores, which has portugese heritage). A link to batam seems to be the best form of drive link.