Speech by Senior Minister of State for Transport, Dr Amy Khor on the Launch of 10 New Friendly Streets

Good afternoon LTA board member Mr Melvin Yong,

Mayor Denise Phua, Mayor for Central Singapore Community Development Council, 

My Parliamentary colleagues, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, as well as Ms Ng Ling Ling, 

Colleagues from LTA as well as MOT, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Introduction

1     Thank you for joining me at today’s launch event of the next 10 Friendly Streets sites. This is another important milestone as we continue on our journey to build an accessible, inclusive and sustainable land transport system that meets the needs of all Singaporeans. 

2.     During the ForwardSG engagements, Singaporeans suggested to enhance the pedestrian experience in Singapore. This was a key motivation for the Friendly Streets initiative in 2023. Friendly Streets aims to make your walking journeys to key amenities in our neighbourhoods safer, more inclusive and convenient. It expands on our existing efforts such as our Silver Zones, School Zones and road repurposing projects. 

Update on the Friendly Streets Initiative

3.     I am pleased to share that four pilots announced in 2023 – Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok West, Toa Payoh and West Coast – have completed, with the remaining pilot in Tampines on track for completion by March this year.  We have received positive feedback from residents. For example, residents living at Ang Mo Kio Street 31 have shared with us that the Friendly Street features like the new raised zebra crossing make their commutes much safer, and they also appreciate the improved barrier-free connectivity.

4.     Our progress is only possible with the close partnership with our community representatives to design each Friendly Street. We walked the ground at each site to observe the behaviour of commuters using each street and identified areas of improvements specific to the user behaviour in the area. We also engaged each community through a Taskforce comprising the Adviser and community representatives including the Merchants Associations, the residents network and school representatives. Beyond that, we also reached out directly to the local communities by speaking to residents, to hear first-hand about their commuting experience and needs in their neighbourhood. 

5.     For example, for the Holland Village Friendly Street which spans Holland Drive, Holland Avenue, Holland Village Way, and Lorong Liput, we set up a booth right here at One Holland Village in August last year to reach out to stakeholders and seek their feedback. 1 in 5 residents said they found it challenging to walk or cross the roads in the neighbourhood today. When we shared about our plans to introduce a Friendly Street in Holland Village, residents responded positively, and were eager to welcome the initiative. Some of you may even be here today! 

6.     We announced 10 new Friendly Streets at MOT’s Committee of Supply in 2024, at Bedok, Buangkok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Holland/Buona Vista, Jurong East, Pek Kio, Punggol, Sembawang and Tiong Bahru/Havelock. I am pleased to update that we have completed our engagements with the communities in these areas and finalised the schemes for these locations. We will be commencing infrastructure works progressively from the first half of this year and these are expected to complete by 2026.

7.     Allow me to give you a preview of the Holland Village Friendly Street. Along Lorong Liput is the bustling Holland Village Market and Food Centre, as well as many eateries and bars. Lorong Liput is already closed off at night on Fridays, weekends, eve of public holidays and public holidays. We will turn Lorong Liput into a Friendly Street and put in place road markings and signs to inform motorists to watch out for pedestrians. Holland Village Way, which is an access road into where we are now at One Holland Village, will be part of the Friendly Street initiative as the footfall leading to this area is high. 

8.     Looking further out, Holland Avenue and Holland Drive will also be part of the Friendly Streets. Residents in the housing blocks along these roads will now be able to cross more easily to reach the town centres in Holland Village and Holland Drive. For motorists, traffic calming measures such as road humps and lower speed limits, and Friendly Streets signages will be placed along these roads to help them get into a frame of mind that they have entered a high pedestrian activity area, encouraging them to slow down, look out for pedestrians and give way. 

9.     For commuters taking public transport to the area, Friendly Streets will also allow for more pleasant journeys. After we hop off the train at Holland Village MRT station, walking towards our favourite eateries along the Friendly Streets will feel safer with calmer traffic along Holland Drive due to the road humps and lower speed limits. Crossing the road will also be easier with the new signalised crossing across Holland Avenue near the bus stop. 

10.    By 2030, Friendly Streets will be expanded to all towns, and located at high-activity areas and with key amenities nearby. This will serve all residents in the neighbourhood, including private residential estates. For example, among the ten upcoming Friendly Streets, Pek Kio, and Havelock are also located near private residential areas, and their new features can be enjoyed by all pedestrians and cyclists visiting nearby amenities. 

11.    Do check out the panels set up today to get a sneak peek at the plans we have for all 10 upcoming Friendly Streets, which are spread out across the island. If anyone here is just a visitor to the Holland Village neighbourhood today, you may find a Friendly Street close to your own home too! 

Conclusion

12.    In conclusion, I would like to express special thanks to all the Grassroots Advisers, Grassroots Leaders, community representatives, and officers from the People’s Association, HDB, NParks and the Town Council for your support and hard work to co-create the Friendly Streets schemes with our team. We could not have done it without you, because every Friendly Street site is customised according to the needs of the stakeholders, and commuters there. I would like to invite everyone to join me in giving a round of applause to all our participants for the good work done! 

13.    Thank you.