Both 13 and 76 are doing okay. Really no need to introduce
another service at Marine Parade, that too when 47 has just been
introduced.
Agree, splitting them at Eunos and
introducing new services would be a waste to the area. I agree that
Marine Parade/Bedok have a ton of services but the sheer amount of
duplication in the area is a problem. It is a product of history in
being one of the older population centers. There are too many
east-west connections to the city which is a leftover of old
pan-island routes that were necessary prior to the introduction of
the MRT. Just look at all the services that duplicate each other
and EWL along Changi Rd. While they may provide unique connections
to the city and western areas, these destinations should be reached
by MRT and not long-winded bus routes, plus their traveling
distances can really affect reliability. The east coast is
ultimately lacking in north-south intra-town connections that link
school/shopping clusters with neighbouring housing estates, and has
a suboptimal MRT feeder system where connections are too skewed to
Paya Lebar and Bedok. I hope this will change with the TEL and more
emphasis is placed on MRT access and intra-town connectivity rather
than connectivity into the city. Many routes will be obsolete with
the introduction of TEL and I hope we don't end up with a situation
similar to Changi Rd.
13 is another classic example of the area's
sheer amount of duplication. It duplicates 16, 43 and 48 in
connecting UEC with Marine Parade. As such, buses often run very
empty. So, I see no harm in eliminating this sector. It presents an
opportunity to re-allocate resources to serve new
connections.
I suggest amending 13 such that it
plied
Sims Av East > Chai Chee St > Bedok
North St 1 > Bedok North Av 3 > New Upp Changi Rd > Bedok
South Av 3 > Upp East Coast Rd.
This new sector is about 7.8km which is
slightly shorter than the deleted sector from Eunos. It will
benefit:
1. Chai Chee residents traveling going to
Geylang Serai and provides a new connection to Kembangan
MRT
2. New connection between Bedok South &
Bedok North other than 506 which charges higher fares and is
infrequent.
3. East Coast GRC =)
68 (Eunos <> Jln Kembangan
loop)
Sims Av > Still Rd > Still Rd South
> Marine Parade Rd > Marine Cres > Marine Parade Rd >
Siglap Rd > East Coast Rd > Frankel Av > Jln Kembangan
> (Same route) > Marine Terrace > Marine Cres > (same
route back to Eunos Int)
1. Two-way connection to Eunos from Marine
Terrace/Marine Cres, plus new intra-town connection to
Kembangan/Frankel/Changi Rd area.
2. Connection to Geylang Serai market is
still provided, albeit on the way back, one must walk to Eunos Int
(might be an added hassle for elderly). City Plaza connection
already provided via 43, 76, 135 & 197.
3. Lost connection to
Geylang Redlight district but can still be accessed via 197 from
Guillemard Rd.
Alternatively, this service could ply Siglap Rd >
Chai Chee St > Chai Chee Dr > New Upp Changi Rd > Siglap
Rd. However, as my proposed 13 amendment already serves Chai Chee
plus Kembangan having poorer connections, this above proposal may
not be fair to introduce at the same time.