Image Credits: Land Transport Authority, LTA
1. Background
First conceived in the 1960s’, Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system has since expanded, from the initial 6km North-South line commuting passengers from Yio Chu Kang to Toa Payoh, to an extended network that criss-crosses the city state. While the MRT is not fully underground, of the 51 stations in service by 2002, 16 were underground stations. Needless to say, with the addition of lines such as the Circle line, this number has also grown. According to the Land Transport Authority, a staggering 2.4 million people hop onto the MRT daily.
2. Critique of Impact:
Overall, the MRT system has proven to be a useful resource as it confers many environmental benefits. Firstly, the efficiency of the system ensures that a significant portion of the population opt for the MRT instead of their own cars. As such, it may be postulated that the emergence and proliferation of the MRT has reduced carbon emissions which are an inevitable consequence of using automobiles.
Additionally,under new guidelines from the LTA, the MRT system has become increasingly energy efficient and sustainable. These improvements contribute to a holistic approach aimed at the design of the system. In order to enhance energy efficiency, the following has been ameliorated:
– Electrical systems
– Lighting systems
– Air Conditioning systems
– Platform screen doors
– Rolling stock
– Alignment ( utilization of hump profile )
– Escalator & Lift systems
– Green Mark for RTS
( Thong, M & Cheong, A. 2012, May. Energy Efficiency in Singapore’s Rapid Transport System)
Last but not least, besides the MRT system itself, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has introduced a Green Mark scheme that evaluates individual MRT stations on: Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Environmental Protection, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Other Green Features and Innovation.The strict certification process necessitates shops that operate in MRT station premises to do so in an environmentally sustainable. They are also encouraged to adopt eco-friendly habits in daily operations to reduce both the environmental and economic impact of their business. ( 2013, November 4. SMRT unveils Singapore’s first Eco-MRT Station and Xchange. My News Desk. Retrieved from: http://www.mynewsdesk.com/ )