More Buses for Fewer Routes

Housing and Auxilliary Services (HAS) proposes to do away with shuttle bus services A and B. All existing buses are to serve route C instead.

By Amir Yusof

As the bus crunch worsens, the Office of Housing and Auxilliary Services (HAS) has proposed doing away with Buses A and B.

Instead, all resources will be channelled towards Bus C to reduce waiting time, and the crowds on the buses. 

Currently, Bus C only goes in one direction. It has the longest mileage among the three shuttle buses, as it loops around the halls of residences, and both the North and South spines.

HAS also proposed for Bus C to go in both directions.

If HAS’s proposal is passed, students will be able to travel from the South Spine to Halls of Residence 6 and 8 without taking an extra loop.

These are part of HAS’s counterproposal to NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU). NTUSU’s rejected plan was to add four new buses, which would cost an extra S$440,000.

Cheryl Lee, NTUSU’s student relations executive, said HAS was reluctant to boost the transport budget.

“Our proposal involved an additional $440,000 annually and it was too large a sum. Instead, they submitted a detailed counter-proposal that is more cost effective,” said Lee.

Shaun Ng, 22, a resident of Hall 16 said: “Increasing the number of Bus Cs should be a priority.”

“The move to make Bus C travel both directions will reduce travelling around campus. The current situation for Bus C is simply unacceptable — two to three buses often arrive simultaneously, with waiting times stretching up to half an hour,” added the first-year student from the School of Computer Engineering.

But should Buses A and B be removed, this would mean some parts of the school — such as the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) — will not be as accessible.

A second-year student from ADM, Hafeez Shah, 23, said removing Bus A will increase his travel time instead.

“I stay in Hall 1 and the fastest route to ADM is via Bus A. Bus C stops at quite a distance from my school,” said Hafeez.

Some students also believe the HAS proposal will not effectively solve the shuttle problem of the overly packed buses.

“Students who normally travel via Buses A and B will now get on Bus C, the congestion in Bus C’s route will worsen,” said Siti Nurhanis, 19, a first-year student from the National Institute of Education.

“It will divert the crowd to a single route, making the situation worse,” she added.

The criticisms for the HAS proposal show that it might not be a one-size-fits-all solution.

HAS stressed the proposal details are not finalised.

“NTUSU and HAS are still evaluating our options for the shuttle bus system,” HAS said.

What do you think of the counterproposal by HAS? And do you have any interesting suggestions on how to solve NTU’s transport woes? Leave your comments below.