1. Come 2015, Bukit Panjang commuters will have greater convenience and enjoy seamless transfers with the opening of a new air-conditioned bus interchange.
2. The new 7,350 square metres bus interchange will be seamlessly linked with LRT/ MRT stations and adjoining developments. (Please see Annex A for artist impression of the Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub (ITH)).
3. Mr Chan Kwok Cheong, LTA’s Director for Public Transport Regulation, said, “The new bus interchange will be integrated with the existing Bukit Panjang LRT station, upcoming Bukit Panjang MRT station as well as retail, F&B and residential developments co-located on the same site. This will provide commuters, residents and shoppers with easy access to the bus and rail network. Commuters in nearby residential developments and malls can look forward to running errands or shopping conveniently and comfortably, before transferring to their connecting buses or trains.”
4. Eleven bus services will operate out of the new interchange. Presently the existing bus interchange serves about 7,500 to 8,000 commuters daily. Together with potential new users, these commuters will directly benefit from the enhanced integration of the new bus interchange with the existing Bukit Panjang LRT station and upcoming Bukit Panjang MRT Station.
5. The new interchange will be fully air-conditioned to protect commuters from the elements, providing a more comfortable environment for commuters. Transfer times will also be reduced with the new interchange. Currently, it takes about 5 minutes to walk from the existing bus interchange to the LRT station. With the completion of the new interchange, commuters can expected to take about 1½ minutes to walk to the LRT station and about 2½ minutes to walk to the MRT station.
6. Finally, the new interchange is designed with barrier-free features to cater to commuters with mobility challenges. These include dedicated boarding points and lower counters at the Passenger Service Office for the convenience of passengers-in-wheelchair. All entrances and exits of the interchange will also be barrier-free.
7. To make way for development of the new Bukit Panjang ITH on the existing site, the current bus interchange will cease operations on 16 December 2012.
8. During this period, commuters will still have access to the bus services currently calling at the existing bus interchange. Existing bus stops and three new bus stops within the vicinity of the existing bus interchange will function as a temporary replacement bus interchange so that commuters can access these bus services. SMRT will provide more information on the bus services plying at these bus stops.
Other Integrated Transport Hubs
9. Works on the Bedok and Joo Koon ITHs are on-going and they are scheduled to open in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The other ITHs are located at Ang Mo Kio, Boon Lay, Clementi, Sengkang, Serangoon and Toa Payoh.
