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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Transportation Planning is vital as it conquers the planning for a

connection system either between a small scale area or a larger region through
the management and design of movements. It is a continuous process of
managing the transport system where involves a series of process. In developing
a town, city or region both human and goods need a good mobility facilities so
that there is good connectivity of a development. Besides, through the planning
of transportation system, the development of a region will come to an advance
naturally. This is because of the character of the access and circulation which
create the structure and land use pattern of a city or a region. In short,
transportation planning

In addition, Transportation Planning approach attempts to foresee the

modes of transportation as the major of transportation modes and defining the
demand of future transportation infrastructure to get a solution towards a
sustainability transportation management. This will lead to the planning of the
transportation facilities which will considering both for non-motorized and
motorized modes of transportation. At the same time, the Transportation

Planning system will encourages high mobility of non-motorize and reduce the
mobility of motorized road users which happens by increasing the efficiency of
non-motorized road facilities with support of public transport system. Therefore,
Transportation Planning provides high opportunity in promoting good
transportation facilities of a city.

Rapid development results the increase of needs for livable living and
workplace. The urbanization, urban trend of living and the design of current
urban structure are the factors which leads to the dependency rate on the use of
private vehicle. Johor Bahru is one of the districts in Malaysia which facing rapid
growth of development after the main capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The
uncontrolled land use development creates sprawling over its City Centre and
design an unregulated transport system. This issue can be related to what
understand by Minhans and Moghaddasi (2013) as during the early 1960s, when
Malaysia experiencing rapid development of economic, there is failure in
identifying the importance of public transportation planning. As a result public
transport service still lags behind in extent as well as in quality terms when
compared to the ASEAN counterparts such as Singapore as well as Hong Kong
and Japan (Minhans et al., 2013). Therefore, what is currently happen is actually
due to the lack of practice on the transportation planning system.

1.1

Case Study of Singapore

Singapore or Singapura in Sanskrit term which officially known as the

Republic of Singapore. The Republic of Singapore is the world's only sovereign
city-state which strategically located in the Southeast part of Asia. The strategic
location promotes the country to be one of the major trade nodes of port which
then creating a good economic base from the exports and refining imported

goods. It is also well connected to Malaysia by both north and west part as it is
well accessible by the JohorSingapore Causeway in the north, and the Tuas
Second Link in the west part.

Singapore is an advance and well planned country which clearly seen

from the management of land uses, connectivity and accessibility pattern and the
economics structure. There elements of sustainability structuring the land use,
accessibility and economic pattern of Singapore. Due to its geographical
structure which is as an Island, Singapore has a very limited space it need a good
management of land use and pattern. The concept towards a sustainable city
describe through the development of self- contained living area. It is one of a
good solution to help people to reduce the cost of living where they can save the
cost of transportation as well as managing to reduce the use dependency on
motorized mode of transportation. Therefore, Singapore has a very good system
in terms of transportation planning.

CHAPTER 2

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE

Transportation system is always a vital part in the developing a region as

it is about a connection and transportation planning is about making connection.
Accessibilities and networking plays an important role too in the development of
economics and physicals of Singapore. Historically, the development of current
modern Singapore was started back then in 1918s due to its strategic
geographical location in the Southeast part of Asia as a node for the trading. This
uniqueness hence, creating a good economic accessibility of this country. The
development of economic structure during 1960s was then driven the rapid
growth of Singapore. Experiencing poor transportation management system is a
common issue faced by developing country and this is also what happened to this
republic country. Traffic problems in the 1960s were typically those experienced
in many developing cities: poor traffic management and serious congestion in the
city centre, inadequate and inefficiently operated public transport services, poor
infrastructure maintenance, poor driver discipline and enforcement resulting in
high road accidents (Chin, 1998). Therefore, they need a better management and
solutions to the problems hence creating ideas on implementing transportation
planning and policies.

Compared to Malaysia which realized a bit later about the importance of

transportation planning, Singapore started understanding on transportation
planning back in 1938. This is confirmed by Chin (1998) in his journal on the
Urban Transport Planning in Singapore that No formal transport study was
reported until 1938 when the Traffic Conditions Committee was formed to
consider the present traffic conditions in the town of Singapore including parking
and the trial of traffic offences and to make recommendations for their
improvements (Trimmer, 1938, para. 22). Then, Chin (1998) also identified that
there are three periods developments of transportation planning in Singapore
which are 1960s, 1960s to 1980s and the vision-driven transportation planning
era of 1990s. Realizing the vital of achieving sustainable development, the
Singapore Government takes an initiative by setting up the Land Transport
Authority (LTA) in 1995. Current transportation planning and policies
implemented by the government of Singapore are the Land Transport Master
plan 2013 which designed to continuously building up and improving the land
transportation system to meet the needs of populations.

2.1

Transportation Planning Policies in Singapore

Urban transportation planning and policies approach in Singapore

implemented by the Government of Singapore, Land Transport Authority
Singapores due to arising of transportation issues during the era of rapid
economic development. The approaches used by LTA includes building up and
improving the land transportation system, reorganizing and improving the public
transportation, management of traffic and the planning of integrated transport
and land use.

2.1.1 Vehicle Ownership Policy

The successful economic policies resulted in the stability of

socioeconomic structure of Singapore which then leads to the affordability of
owning private vehicle. This Rapid growth pattern arise the vital of
transportation planning due to various traffic issues and problems which grow
together. Realizing on their limited space for development they have to avoid on
planning for the new road networking system or expansion. Therefore, vehicle
ownership policy was introduced as an alternative to the traffic problems.

Vehicle ownership policy comprises of additional registration fee (ARF),

road tax structure and petrol tax rate. The additional registration fee (ARF) road
tax structure and petrol tax rate was introduced as a result of the increased in the
import duty for cars for the open market value (OMV). The OMV of a vehicle is
determined by Singapore customs which equivalent to the price of the car,
including freight and other incidental charges. The ARF is applied for each new
car. However, new system then introduced which is preferential additional
registration fee (PARF) if the car is de-registered before ten years to encourage
owners to replace old car with the new ones. The Annual road tax on vehicles,
applied based on per cc. of the engine capacity in which depending on the each
vehicle class by engine capacity. The structure and systems is slightly change by
time in making sure the control of vehicle volume growth on the road.

Vehicle quota system (VQS) was also implemented in 1990 as one of the
mechanism to control the growth of vehicle ownership. The VQS scheme
introduces the concept of car ownership title which is certificate of entitlement
(COE). It is compulsory for new car buyers to have COE. This certificate will
valid for ten years. The cost of the CEO will be determined based on the engine
size category of vehicles.

2.1.2

Area licensing Scheme (ALS)

The area licensing scheme (ALS) comes with the Motor Vehicles
(Restricted Zone and Area Licensing) Rules 1975. The scheme focusing on the
Central Business District (CBD) where the area declared as a Restricted Zone
(RZ) for private vehicles during the peak hour. There is a concept of authorized
license vehicles or vehicles which carry at least 4 persons only can enter the RZ.
This is showing that this scheme also promoting car-pooling concept in order to
minimize the numbers of vehicles on road.

The ALS also was designed with less impact to the commuters group
where the park-and-ride system (PRS) was also introduced together. This is
providing alternative to this group of people to enter the CBD. Besides, this
system helps in reducing traffic congestion tension in CBD in which the number
of vehicle entering the zone is reduced.

2.1.3

Public Transport Operations

Public transportation system is very important in maintaining the stability

of the control on the traffic and transportation problems. The development of
public transportation planning usually grows with the number of population in
the region. Before 1980s the public transport mode provided in Singapore is
very limited to the bus service and taxi service only. However, in 1983 the Mass
Rapid Transit service (MRT) was introduced. Then, based on the strategic
transport plans 1991 the public transport was enhanced by the extension of mass
transport system to the region of intense developments. Light rapid transit (LRT)
was introduced to cover the less intense development areas plus the provision of
ferries service along the coastal area.

2.1.4

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)

The electronic road pricing (ERP) system started in the 1990s to replace

the manual ALS system which seems to be less effective. This system aimed to
manage the congestion problems especially within the CBD zone especially
during the peak hours. There are three components in the ERP which are the Invehicle units (IU), the charge point equipment at the roadside and a remote
central computer system. The introduction of ERP will result in a more balance
ratio of ownership cost to usage cost. It is expected that the current ownership to
usage cost ratio of 70:30 will eventually be made closer to 50:50 (Chin, 1998).

2.1.5

Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2013

The LTMP 2013 was designed based on the reviews and results and
publics feedback from the implementation of previous LTMPs. The publics
suggesting a more comprehensive public transportation network with a better
MRT and bus service quality. Besides the publics also request for a better design
of walking and cycling facilities to make sure of conformity and safety of
pedestrian. The LTMP 2013 aims for the concept of People-Centred Land
Transport System. This master plan will be working on three most important
centred focusing on providing better service, making more connections and
designing livable and inclusive community. Diagram 2.1 shows the conceptual
diagram of People-Centred Land Transport System.

Diagram 2.1: Conceptual Diagram of People-Centred Land Transport

System.

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CHAPTER 3

IMPACT OF PLANNING AND POLICIES

The development and implementation of certain planning system and

policies will surely giving impact to a region either it is affected in of positive
way or negatively. However, transportation planning is a continuous process in
building up and improving the system of transportation in achieving the
sustainable transport system which can cater the needs of current population
without compromising the future needs.

The scarcity of land due to the geographical situation of Singapore lead to

a proper management of land use planning with the integration of transportation
system. Out of the 640 km2 of total land area, 12% are dedicated for roads and
other facilities to support the road infrastructure (chin, 1998). Comparing to land
developed for housing there is not so much different as there is 13% out of total
land was used for residential purposes. Then, as what reported in the LTMP
2013, the road comprises 12% of and housing 14 percent. There is increase in the
total land uses for housing but not for the road. This is showing that there is good
in term of road networking system planning in which the government can

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maintain the percentage use of land for the development of road through the
VOP scheme, ALS system, public transportation management and ERP scheme.

The implementation of transportation planning and policies also results to

a self-contained concept design. The development starts to go vertical in order to
save the space for development as well as preventing the use of space to develop
more roads networking system. The concept of self-contained living area
provides people with good access to their needs where they live, work and get
access to leisure within an area. The facilities and amenities also well designed to
be within the area to cater the needs of the people. This is means that the nonmotorized mode of transportation occupancy is increase where people can just
walk or cycling to their destination as everything is allocated within walking
distance. This concept in short helps to reduce the cost of living as the cost of
transportation is can be reduce.

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CHAPTER 4

APPLICATION OF TRANSPORTATION POLICIES OF SINGAPORE IN

JOHOR BAHRU

Johor Bahru District is located within the Iskandar Malaysia

Development Region. This development region corridor brings more focused on
development of economic and infrastructure to an established urban conurbation
located at the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. As a developing region,
Johor Bahru experiencing serious traffic problems due to the high impact
Iskandar Malaysia development area.

4.1

Inefficient of Public transportation services

Rapid growth of land use and economy increase the tendency of urban
congestion. Urban congestion is leads to urban sprawling which then the traffic
and transportation network issue came up. Sprawling can cause poor
management of road networking due to unsure land use distribution in increase

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in the urban population as well. This will cause the unregulated public
transportation network which cause ineffective in the public transportation
service. Basically, it can be said that unregulated public transportation service
happen because of the mismanagement of land use.
As what implemented in Singapore, the Singapores Government at the
first stage manage the distribution of land use where they manage to prevent the
urban area from sprawling. They are using the concept of compact city by
growing vertically so that they manage to cater the increase in urban population.
At the current stage it is observed that Johor Bahru City Centre is also growing
with high rises. Then in order to manage the unregulated public transportation
service problems, the design of public transportation mass must be clearly aimed
to cater the needs of population. The variety of public transportation mode
choices in Singapore started from walking outside their door, cycling or walking
on well design pavements, taking train or bus to the destination showing the
efficiency of system and this should be applied in Johor Bahru. The system
should not only accouter the urban population, but also the commuters and a
better and efficient public transportation management can be achieve.

4.2

Traffic Congestion in Johor Bahru City Centre

As a developing region, Johor Bahru City Centre experiencing traffic

congestion. This is due to the increase of population into the city centre where
there is agglomeration of Jobs opportunities. People tent to concentrate towards
the city centre where the commuters will have to travel to the City Centre every
day to work. However, the inefficient service of public transportation system
forcing people to drive their own vehicles to work as it is more convenient. This

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condition results to serious towards Johor Bahru City Centre especially during
the peak hour.

Singapore was once experience traffic congestion as well. Traffic

congestion can be resolved with good public transportation system where this
application can reduce the dependency on the private vehicle. When people
satisfy with the service they will choose public transport rather than facing the
traffic congestion every day.

Secondly, the road pricing system may be suitable to be applied in Johor

Bahru where people need to pay when entering certain areas. This will make
people think twice when they want to drive their own private vehicle. The system
will allow the control of cars volume on the road hence, reduce the traffic
congestion problems.

Thirdly, traffic congestion can be control by the management of parking

which can helps reducing the undesirable impacts on parking demand. The pay
parking system are applicable in Johor Bahru in which the car uses need to pay
when they want to park their vehicle. Free or inexpensive parking system alow
overused long-term or all-day parker. This will limits the parking spaces for the
other uses. Therefore, pay parking is efficient in controlling the car volume on
the road as well as reducing traffic congestion problem.

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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSION

Transportation Planning is vital as the approaches will foresee the modes

of transportation and defining the demand of future transportation infrastructure.
Urban transportation planning and policies approach in Singapore designed to
continuously building up and improving the land transportation system to meet
the needs of populations. Urban transportation planning and policies applied in
Singapore leads to a proper management of land uses where the city structure is
basically pattern up with proper management of road networking with minimalist
land uses on road. Then the land use pattern significantly change the way
Singaporeans live which is towards a sustainable way of life. In relation to what
have been implemented in Singapore in managing the public transportation
system and controlling the road congestion problems, a few policies and schemes
are applicable and suitable to change Johor Baru towards a better transportation
management.

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CHAPTER 6

REFERENCES

Anil Minhans, Ali Moghaddasi. 2013. Technology Journal of Transport Cost

Analysis of City Bus and Private car Usage in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310
Johor Bahru.

Chin Hoon Chor. 1998. Urban Transport Planning in Singapore. National

University of Singapore.

Lee Kuan Yew. 2013. The Evaluation of Public Transport Policy in Singapore.
School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Land Transport Masterplan 2013. Singapore

Singapore. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved December 15, 2014,

from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_in_Singapore