RE: PTC's List of bus
service applications for Nov 08 to May 09 (my very first post
on SGforums!)
Seven years ago, in 2009, there was an application made by SBS
Transit to the PTC to amend the route of bus service 243. There
were rumors that bus service 243 would be amended into a loop
service.
I do not know what was the proposed amendment on bus service
243, but I believe it is this:
Logically, SBS Transit would have let bus service 241 use the
shorter route to run between Boon Lay Bus Interchange and Jurong
West Street 91, via Jurong West Street 62, Jurong West Street 61,
Jurong West Street 71 and Jurong West Avenue 5. This is because a
shorter route has lower costs of operation, thus enable more
revenue. (Note: back then, before 2010, SBS Transit had the power
to create and amend its bus routes.)
For bus service 243, I believe the plan was to let the bus run
straight along Pioneer Road North after Jurong West Avenue 4, and
turn right onto Jurong West Street 63 (Pioneer MRT Station) and
then right again onto Jurong West Street 61 to return back using
the W route of the current 243G/W.
Whereas for bus service 242, that route amendment was probably
the plan proposed.
I guess there are people here who know what was the plan for 243
route amendment, which was rejected by the community. If you know,
please tell me. Thanks. :)
Anyway, it is still possible to amend 243 to loop around Pioneer
MRT Station. We can let 243 ply Jurong West Street 71 and loop
around Pioneer MRT Station. This would reduce duplication with 241.
Meanwhile, 241 can ply Jurong West Street 62.
A new pair of bus stop can be created at Jurong West Street 81,
to compensate for the skipped bus stop at Jurong West Avenue 5.
Whereas for the new bus service 258 launched by the government,
we can re-route it to serve Jurong West Neighborhood 9 en-route to
Joo Koon Bus Interchange. This can enable bus service 99 to revert
to its previous route, where it loops at Jurong West Street 91 and
returns to Clementi Bus Interchange.
We can re-route bus 258 between Jurong West Street 81 and Upper
Jurong Road. 258 can skip Jurong West Street 71, Jurong West Street
61, Jurong West Street 63 and Pioneer Road North. Instead, 258 can
ply Jurong West Avenue 5, Pioneer Road North, Jurong West Street 91
and Jurong West Street 93.
Hopefully, we can conclude this discussion on the rumored 243
route amendment, once and for all. :)
