Embedded Files
Factors influencing Quality of Transport Systems
1. Density of transport network
A transport network contains nodes that are linked by routes. The more nodes and routes there are in an area, the denser the transport network density. Most cities have dense transport networks, making it easier for people to reach locations and engage in different activities.
Can you recognise the nodes, routes in a transport nework such as the MRT and LRT systems in Singapore?
2. Quality of transport infrastructure
Cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul have invested heavily to develop high quality public transport infrastructure. The reliability and performance of a transport system for moving people and goods is dependent on the quality of the transport infrastructure. This includes roads, railways, walkways, bridges, bicycle lanes, signages, information systems that show real-time transport information, ticketing systems to pay for trips, etc.
An example of an app in Singapore, sgbuses, showing the estimated time of arrival of buses at a bus stop. It shows how frequent and reliable the transport system is.
3. Variety of transport modes
Transport modes in cities refer to the ways in which people and goods and services move from one location to another.
There are three main modes of transport – land, air and water.
Motorized modes such as public transport may move along fixed routes and stop at specific nodes according to a time schedule. There are also modes that provide customized point-to-point transport services. Shared mobility, through bike-sharing and car-sharing, is also on the rise in many cities.
Benefits of having a variety of transportation modes
● Travelling around the city can be easier because people have more transportation options such as buses, trams and trains, which are also more affordable than cars.
● Traffic congestion can be reduced when people have more options to travel, such as opting for bigger transport vehicles like buses and trains which can carry more passengers than cars
● Environmental pollution in cites can be reduced as fewer cars on the road can lead to less fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
● The introduction of environmentally friendly non-motorized transport modes such as walking and cycling in many cities also promote health benefits among the people living in cities.
One characteristic of transport systems in cities is the quality of the transport infrastructure. Singapore's transport infrastructure is of high quality.
For example the use of intelligent transport systems such as the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries.
Where are Transport Nodes Located in a City
Concentration of activities in cities
Cities are bustling with activities ranging from finance and banking to manufacturing, retail and leisure. Transport nodes are often located near such concentration of activities so that more people can access them. In Singapore, major nodes such as Raffles Place, City Hall and Bay Front MRT stations are examples of major transport nodes located in the city centre to provide people with access to the commercial services and employment opportunities available in the city centre. In Singapore, major transport nodes such as Little India, Chinatown and Botanic Gardens MRT stations offer access to popular tourist destinations rich in historical and cultural heritage.
Areas with high accessibility
Accessibility is the ease of reaching destinations or activities. A location with high accessibility is one from which many different destinations can be reached with relative ease within a given time frame and cost. Most people based their travel decisions on travel time and cost. These factors are often used as a measure of a location’s accessibility. Short travel time and low travel cost between origin and destination may indicate high accessibility.
Instructions:
Click cancel - no need to sign in.
On the menu bar, click on Layers. From the drop-down list, select only the following:
MRT Lines
Bus Interchanges & Terminals
Question: With reference to the digital map, describe the distribution of bus interchanges and terminals.
Did you notice the following?
Bus interchanges and terminals are well distributed along all MRT lines with more located in the central south region of Singapore.
Bus interchanges and terminals are distributed around Singapore, with most found along the North-South and East-West MRT lines
Add in the layer CBD
Question: With reference to the digital map, how many different MRT Lines and Bus Interchanges & Terminals are located in the Central Business District?
Did you notice the 5 MRT lines and 1 bus terminal?
Why do you think there is a transport node in the CBD?
4. Unchecked the CBD layer as well as bus interchanges and terminals. Select the MRT stations, MRT line and tourist attractions.
Question: What is the relationship between the location of MRT stations and tourist attractions?
Did you notice the following?
The MRT lines and tourist attractions are densely concentrated in the central south region of Singapore.
The accessibility by trains to tourist attractions in the north is low.
The accessibility by trains to tourist attractions in the west is high.
What roles do transport systems play?
Transport systems enable the movement of people as well as goods and services.
Movement of people
Transport systems facilitate the everyday mobility of people, enabling people to commute to work. In many cities, employment opportunities are concentrated in the city centre while housing is found further away in areas where it is more affordable. The physical separation between residential areas and employment opportunities means that people must commute or travel to and from their homes to their workplaces daily. Transport systems play a major role in providing access to social activities and amenities that will improve people’s social and emotional well-being.
For example, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) invests millions of dollars to expand the country’s network of sheltered walkways, allowing commuters to reach amenities conveniently from public transport modes. Where feasible, walkways are built to schools, healthcare facilities and other public amenities within a 400-metre radius of MRT stations, and within a 200-metre radius of bus interchanges and Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations.
Movement of goods and services
Transport systems are vital to the functioning of economic activities, supplying goods and services from where they are produced to where they are consumed. The rise of e-commerce where goods and services are bought or sold over the internet, has increased the demand for door-to-door delivery of goods. People also depend on services delivered using the transport system for their daily needs. For example, in Mexico City, residents who live beyond the reach of piped water distribution depend entirely on water supply trucks. For some cities in California, water trucks help to deliver water to households during times of drought. In most cities, tank trucks deliver petroleum to petrol kiosks.
Connection between transport modes
● In a unimodal transport system, movements are limited.
For example, trains can only travel between two points, like Point A to Point F.
● In intermodal system, there can be more types of movement.
For example, trains can travel from Point A to E or from Point C to D through transiting at different intermodal points (transshipment).
Transport Modes
Cities are serviced by different transport modes. Each mode has its own set of optimal conditions for travel such as distance, cost, time and the volume it can carry.
For instance,
⮚ road transport is the most versatile mode for short distances below 500km, but it carries smaller volume than rail per trip.
⮚ Rail transport is more cost efficient for large volumes over moderate distances ranging from 500 to 1500km.
⮚ For long distance travel beyond 1500km, maritime transport offers the most value-for money option, but it is slower than air transport.
In Singapore, most non-perishable imported goods are shipped to Singapore via land or water transport. The goods are then transported to a warehouse or distribution centre where they are sorted and dispatched by delivery trucks to your doorstep. An efficient transport network is one with good intermodal connectivity. Intermodal connectivity is the seamless movement of passengers and freight using two or more transport modes. Intermodal transport taps on the strengths of each transport mode with the goal of linking different modal networks so that more destinations can be reached. Intermodal connectivity is the key to ensuring passengers do not get lost and that goods do not go missing while changing between modes at intermodal interchanges or terminals. Careful planning is needed to provide infrastructural support that will ensure the smooth connectivity between modes.
Have you wondered how the items you have ordered online reached you?
Intermodal shipping is when multiple modes of transportation are used to move goods from their origin to their destination country. This involves a seamless integration of various modes such as trucks, trains, ships, and airplanes to enable flexible logistics. In this, cargo is usually loaded into a standardized container that is easily transferred between different transport modes without the need for unpacking and repacking.
Connection between cities
A point-to-point network connects a set of locations directly without any interruption of services. It allows people to travel between cities directly.
A hub-and-spoke network connects every location through one intermediary location called a hub. It allows people to travel between cities by making a transfer at a hub. Singapore’s Changi Airport is a ‘super hub” for freight as it processes over a million tonnes of goods a year.
Do you know which MRT station is the Deepest in Singapore?
Page updated
Report abuse