On Mr Liang FB:
“Glad that we have arrived at a solution that can reduce the impact to our affected residents arising from changes to Service 700 & 171:-
1. LTA will convert Service 971E into a non-express service (renamed as 971) and ply through Pending and Petir Road during peak hours to offer affected residents there a direct link to the city
2. As a non-express service, 971 will serve more bus stops and commuters can alight at more stops to be nearer their destinations. In addition, the operating hours for Service 971 will be extended to 6.30 am to 8.30 am in the morning and to 6.05 pm to 7.35 pm in the evening
3. As a result of the conversion to non-express, there will be a significant reduction in fares (up to 60 cents per trip). For residents staying along Petir Road, travelling time and fares remains the same as per the current Service 700.
4. Non-peak commuters at Petir Road can continue to take Service 973 to DTL. More buses will also be added to Service 973 to improve its frequency.
5. Taking in our feedback, LTA has also agreed not to change the existing route for Service 972 and hence no impact on fares and travelling time for existing commuters. However, they will be a new modified Service 972M that will ply along Dunearn Road and Scotts Road to retain connectivity there.
LTA has also given assurances that more buses will be added to the town’s services should there be crowding or long waiting times.
It has not been easy to find that balance, but our foremost consideration is to minimise the inconveniences and impact to residents; especially to the peak hour commuters.
BP Town has the benefit of the 3 modes of public transport to serve our residents and we intend to keep it that way. Buses will remain as an essential mode of transport for our residents and we will continue to work with LTA to improve the services.
Thank you very much for all your valuable inputs in the past 1 week.”