Too long winded. I'd rather extend 41.
While I do agree that southern Bt Batok can have better links to
Bt Panjang, the stops which your route serve are still in close
proximity to 176 / 178, which can be easy alternatives to both
Jurong East and Bt Panjang. BB East Ave 6 (east side) has 963
within walking distance to BPJ.
As for the other areas, I refer back to my old suggestion on splitting 173, with some
amendments:
========
========
Service 173: Clementi Int to Petir Rd
(Loop)
To terminate at Bt Panjang when ITH is completed.
Service 425: Bt Batok Int to Cashew MRT
Stn (Loop)
To cover lost sections of 173, as well as providing links from
Chestnut estate to both Cashew & Hillview MRT stations.
(Service number is tentative, in the event that Tower
Transit decides to designate any new trunk services as 4xx. 173
will be returned to SMRT.)
========
========
Most former 173 links are well
covered: Hillview - Clementi by 963, Hillview - Beauty World by
970, Bt Batok - UBT Rd (Rail Mall) by 178, Bt Batok - Toh Tuck by
77, and so on. Separating this service allow the two sections to be
more direct and more useful services (as compared to the current
loopback that the 173 route exhibits).
425 provides MRT link to/from Chestnut as such: Hillview MRT
--> Chestnut Dr/Ave --> Cashew MRT, and provides link to Bt
Batok. Amended 173 connects Chestnut to Bt Panjang, Beauty World
and Clementi.
Valide points. I agree with you that BB to BPJ is already well
served. But my proposed 71 does not service BPJ at all if you had
read carefully. It's more of an enhancement to BB-Beauty World as
the fastest link between BB and DTL2. DTL2 will provide a more
direct link to Newton, Little India, Bugis and Marina Bay areas and
BB should enjoy this as well given its proximity. Also BB West Av 8
is really terribly underserved. Given how close it is to Jurong
Town Hall Rd and by extension Jurong East, it deserves a connection
there. Finally, most of the streets I am serving do not have a
Beauty World or a Jurong East link.
Your suggestion of going into the private housing estates of
Chestnut is not necessary given the presence of 184 along Cashew Dr
and the corresponding enhancement 71 will provide. Doing so will
compromise service to Dairy Farm Rd where you will find more demand
from condominiums. Also, these are narrow roads so a bi-directional
service may not work especially when residents want to park
outside.
Anyways, I just had a revelation on how to make 42 more
useful!
42 route
amendment & extension
Jalan Kembangan > Sims Av East > Fidelio St > Siglap Rd
> Siglap Dr > Frankel Av > Jalan Kembangan > Lengkong
3/4 > Jln Selamat > Taman/Jln Kembangan > Frankel
Av > East Coast Rd > Siglap Rd > Marine Parade Rd >
Marine Vista > ECP > Siglap Rd > Changi Rd > Jalan
Kembangan.
Essentially I have reversed the order from Lengkong 3/4 >
Opera, to Opera > Lengkong 3/4 > Marine Parade ext. This
would provide direct access for Lengkong 3/4 to Marine Parade (ala
47 :P). If coming from Marine Parade, residents can do a simple
same stop transfer at Kembangan Stn. Also, if heading to Parkway,
residents do a same stop transfer along Marine Parade Rd.
Will also provide direct access for full stretch of
Frankel/Siglap, Siglap Ctr, Mandarin Gardens etc to Kembangan
MRT/Changi Rd area.
Serves Frankel Avenue in both directions except Aft Coldstream
Av, Bef Roseburn Avenue bus stops. Residents can walk up to Siglap
Dr or walk to East Coast Rd. Serves Siglap Rd in one direction
except Flamingo Valley. Coverage of Siglap Rd provided via Siglap
Ctr.
No duplication with the old route at all and all streets served
by the old route are still covered.
New route is about 12 km versus 5.8 km for the old route, on par
with 92.
This will require a fleet add from the current 3 to possibly 6
to maintain current headways. C'mon 3 BSEP buses, please la
LTA!
Service 46
Eunos-Chai Chee
Eunos > Joo Chiat Rd > Dunman Rd > H> aig Rd >
Marine Parade Rd > Telok Kurau Rd > Sims Av East > Chai
Chee Dr > Chai Chee St > Bedok Nth Av 1 > Bedok Nth Rd
> Chai Chee St > (Same route) > Haig Rd > Paya Lebar
MRT > Eunos
Chai Chee - Kembangan MRT - Marine Parade (Direct
connection)
Reduces crowding on 15 for Telok Kurau Rd
Haig Rd coverage
