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Seriously?! Where are we, or rather, Singapore heading to now? The problem exist because of poor planning (it may even be a cost saving effort by HDB when they are developing the estate), and now resident have to come up with their own money to overcome the issue they faced daily? What is next? Resident to build their own community / recreational center, install additional lifts, street lights, bus stops? Where is the $$$ with our MND / HDB / TCs??? Are the residents required to folk out additional money to have the bridge maintain periodically too? And if there are any legal issues with the bridge (say structural issue, someone claiming damage for the use of link bridge, etc.), shall the residents be made liable for it, since MND, HDB and AMKTC can wash their hands off as the bridge was not built by them? PM Lee opens new linkway at Sengkang tree-planting event PM Lee opened a new sheltered linkway that will allow residents of the Fern Spring and Fern View estates bounded by Fernvale Lane and Fernvale Road to access the nearby bus stop along Yio Chu Kang Road. It links the third storey of the multi-storey carpark at Block 404 Fernvale Lane to the bus stop. Mr Gan, who oversees the Sengkang South division, said the linkway project was a community initiative mooted last year by grassroots leaders, who raised about $388,000 to build it. The linkway was completed just last week. As most of the housing blocks are built on a slope, residents in the past would have to walk up a 40-step staircase from the ground floor of the carpark to reach the top of the slope, where the bus stop is located . With the linkway, they can just take the lift to the third storey of the adjacent carpark and get to the bus stop without climbing the stairs. "This is part of plans to make the neighbourhood more accessible for elderly residents and families with young children in prams," said Mr Gan. There are about 1,600 households in the Fern Spring and Fern View estates. Former garment factory worker Teng Mei Foong, 65, is glad to see the new linkway. "Walking up the stairs is very tiring for older people like us and residents have been complaining about this for the past four years or so. Now it'll be easier to get to the bus stop when I go to Chinatown to do some errands, or when I visit my relatives," she said. 每天爬40级梯级出入不便 盛港南基层与居民自发筹钱建衔接桥 负责盛港南区事务的宏茂桥集选区议员颜添宝受访时说，基层人员根据居民反馈和实地考察，去年提出要造桥的提议。建筑工程约两个月前展开，如今顺利完工，那一带的约1600户家庭将从中受惠。 “我们在现有基础设施上建造桥梁，让居民可以直接步行到巴士站……居民们每一次出行，爬上爬下都要经过40个梯级。现在有了桥梁，能造福他们，他们也一直很期待这个项目落成。” 颜添宝透露，当局也曾研究其他选项，如建造电梯，但考虑到电梯的维修费用等因素，最后决定采用衔接桥这个“成本最小化，利益最大化”的方案。 不申请建造资金让居民自发参与 造桥费用约为38万8000元。颜添宝指出，造桥费用全数由基层人员、居民和其他私人捐款筹集而得。 一般情况下，市镇理事会可就社区改进项目向国家发展部属下的社区设施改进委员会（简称CIPC）申请资金。颜添宝说，基层人员在考虑到这座桥更深层的意义时，认为可借这项工程促进社区凝聚力。 “造桥是一种对社会的善举……我们在展开工程时就决定不向CIPC申请资金，让居民自发参与。这是个有意义的项目，可以让大家有参与感和归属感。” Translate (the portion highlighted in RED) for non-Chinese reader: The total fee for constructing the link bridge, valued at $388K, was fully funded by grassroot members, residents and other form of donations. Under normal circumstances, town council can apply to MND (CIPC) for such project to be funded. But when grassroot review the meaningfulness of the link bridge, they felt that the project can strengthen the cohesiveness of the community. "Building the bridge is a kind act to the community... As such, when we started the project, we have decided NOT to apply for funding from CIPC, so that residents can contribute to it voluntary. This is a meaningful project, it allows all to have a sense of participation and belonging." For those who did not know who is Gan Thiam Poh...

http://ride.asiaone.com/news/general/story/state-funded-bus-fleet-double-1000 http://ride.asiaone.com/news/general/story/public-transport-satisfaction-lowest-2007 More good years to PTO!! Increase bus fare plus govt funds... Huat ah!!! Think we can kiss our CPF $$ goodbyes!!!! Is this part of the $1.1b or new funds?? Govt must clarify. But clarify oso no use. Peasants will nvr hear the truth.