Sound Barriers for Highways and MRT

last SG · 2004-09-28T19:40:47+00:00

So are the costs of MRT tracks and Roads.

goh meng seng SG

I have been living in Hong Kong for quite some time now and I am really impressed by their "human touch" in many public policies.

As land is very scarce in Hong Kong, buildings are basically pack built and sometimes just next to highways or MTR (that's what they call their subway train system) tracks. However, the transport authority will always make sure that sound barriers are built along the stretch whereby there are residential buildings around, reducing the noise level to minimum.

When I am back in Singapore, I don't see such thoughtful infrastructure built along stretches of highway or MRT tracks which may create high noise level to the nearby residential areas.

I think this is partly due to the style of governance. PAP government is simply not a human orientated government, but it governs by digits and statistics. A world class city should have world class human orientated governance.

We just need more human touch in our dealings with our people.

Goh Meng Seng

greengoblin SG

Ermmm.. more income tax leh… I don’t have enough cash liaoz

goh meng seng SG

Don't worry, that's what LTA should cater by using COE monies! Wink

Goh Meng Seng

oldbreadstinks SG

i thought that's going straight into the reserves? Laughing

Parka SG

It's cost that will not generate future revenue.

Guess they can handle a few noise complaints once in a while.

CenturionMBT SG

hey pal there is a very good reason why trees and bushes are grown next to expressways and roads k? so please do some research first before commenting.

Mr. Green

The Barracuda SG

The level of tolerable noise level is subjective. It differs from person to person. But a person has a choice of where he wants to live. The flats near expressways and mrt tracks are cheaper so its a trade off between the noise level and price of the flats.

SnowFlag SG

You are out of point. Goh is talking abt MRT Razz

goh meng seng SG

Dear Parka,

That is why I say PAP government, governs by digits and statistics.... or to be exact, govern by cents and dollars. There are things that cannot be measured by cents and dollars.

Goh Meng Seng

goh meng seng SG

Dear CenturionMBT,

Maybe you need to experience first hand the effectiveness of sound barriers as compared to trees and bushes. Wink They are world's apart.

Goh Meng Seng

The Barracuda SG

The cost of sound barriers and trees and bushes are world's apart too.

goh meng seng SG

As a government, you take care of people to the best you can. Simple as that. How much money you could generate from monies invested is very secondary; how much satisfactions that people enjoy from your work is of utmost important. That is the role of government.

When the MRT track gets older, there are alot of screeching sounds, especially those near a MRT station. These sound is inevitable but if you could do something about it, why not solve it? Wink

Goh Meng Seng

The Barracuda SG

But there is a limited dollar and unlimited wants.

While the wish to improve the surroundings of the residents is laudable, but the money could bring better benefits if spend in other areas.

goh meng seng SG

No doubt there are limited dollar and unlimited wants, but where is your priorities? $600million for two durians which needs another $50 million per year for maintenance? Wink

The fact is, there are "unseen" money stashed away; large percentage of profits from GLCs are stashed away. Why? PUBLIC Money, if not spent on public, it is as good as nothing. Wink We keep talking about "rainy days" but when we are in it, where is the promised bread? No, a govt cannot work like that. There is no end of stashing monies away into "reserves" that is "invisible" to the public, without accountability to the public. The marginal utility of having more reserves will definitely fall. The govt needs to tell us what is the "MAXIMUM" reserve that we need, not keeping putting money into somewhere that we don't even know! When we reach that Maximum, then we let it roll; we will then enjoy the fruits of our earnings from GLCs! Else, there is no end in this "reserve" thing!

This is unhealthy for a small economy like Singapore. The more money stashed away with little people knowing about it, the risk of abuses and mismanagement will increase, without the public knowing. We should set laws to require the govt to release, at least 5 or 10 year old accounts (they claim it is no good to reveal what we have currently) of these reserves managed by GIC, Termasek and the various investment arms. There must be accountability somewhere.

To me, basic infrastructure like sound barriers and MRT barriers to safe guard lives are the priorities, not the durians. Durians are practially "burning" away good money every day, almost $100K per day! While sound barriers and MRT barriers are one time off capital spending, with little maintenance cost thereafter (well, maybe MRT barriers will need higher maintenance cost). But at the very least, those millions of people who utilize MRT everyday, benefits...from delays due to accidents or suicides!

Goh Meng Seng

The Barracuda SG

Money spent on sound barriers can be spend on other areas like starting a hardship fund for residents or more bursary for students from low income family.

goh meng seng SG

There are many funds you could start but we must take a good look. Capital spending is slightly different consumerable spending. A long term consumerable spending should be viewed strategically as a long term sustainable spending. If PAP govt actually thinks that they could possibly sustain a yearly $50m spending on the Durian, then we must ask ourselves, shouldn't these funds or part of it to be channeled to these funds? Capital spendings should come from the $600million spent in building that Durians!

I believe there are enough funds to go around, if we really care to do our sums and take our priorities right.

I will touch on this in the near future, the role of govt and public financing. But at the mean time, I will be back in Singapore to do ground work.

Goh Meng Seng

paperchicken SG

just buy ear plugs for the residents lah. Mr. Green

Superbus SG

But I thought I read sometime ago that the Government spent a subtantial amount of money upgrading the MRT tracks to reduce noise levels. And most Singaporeans don’t mind the noise made by the MRT trains, it’s part of our lives already! And I’ve yet to hear our MRT trains screeching like a mad old woman – our oldest trains are 15 years in operation!

sbst275 SG

There is 1 place with this…

paperchicken SG

I think so also. ppl are used to it already. why waste more money on sound barriers. I dun hear anyone complaining abt it. Rolling Eyes