The Land Transport Authority (LTA) launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) today, inviting consultancy firms with expertise in landscape architecture, urban design, public space design, placemaking and active mobility to develop a Master Plan for the surface streets along the North-South Corridor (NSC).
2. The surface streets along the corridor, such as Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 and Ophir Road (the stretch between Rochor Road and Beach Road), presently serve as major thoroughfares for vehicular traffic and physically separate various neighbourhoods along the corridor. When the NSC’s viaduct and tunnel are completed in phases from 2027, some of the road space along these streets can be repurposed to give more priority for walking, cycling, public transport, and community spaces. About 30 football fields of surface road space is expected to be freed up in this manner. This will promote greener travel modes in line with our Walk Cycle Ride vision, and make the streets safer, more pleasant and welcoming for the communities along the corridor.
3. Since July 2023, LTA and the National Parks Board (NParks) have been conducting a series of workshops involving residents and other stakeholders on how community spaces along the NSC could be repurposed to better meet their evolving needs. Preliminary ideas proposed include making these public spaces more conducive and convenient for walking and cycling, having more shaded areas, greenery, and landscaping features to remake them as sanctuaries for rest and relaxation, and enabling community activities. See Annex A for more information on the towns served by the NSC and some photos from recent engagements.
4. LTA is calling for this RFP as the next stage of developing a Master Plan for NSC’s surface streets. Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive of the LTA, said, “NSC’s surface streets form a key spine at the heart of the city. By repurposing the road space, we can integrate mobility and placemaking in a way that will potentially transform neighbourhoods, redefine travel, and enrich Singaporeans’ lives. We have been engaging the community to understand their broad aspirations, and their ideas for NSC will now guide the development of the Master Plan.”
5. Through the RFP, we want to develop a Master Plan for the NSC’s surface streets that will effectively maximise the mobility and placemaking potential of the repurposed spaces. This includes incorporating bus priority measures on roads, planning for enhanced walking and cycling experiences, as well as designing public spaces that better serve the needs of locals and visitors along the Corridor. The Master Plan will also include a design guide for any future developments along the Corridor.
Request for Proposal Process
6. The RFP exercise comprises two-stages. In the first stage, participating teams will be assessed based on factors such as their statement of design intent, team composition/organisation and track record. In the second stage, shortlisted teams will be required to develop an overall concept for the Master Plan, an engagement plan, and concept proposals for one urban segment (from Beach Road to Bencoolen Street) and one residential segment (from Marymount Lane to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3). See Annex B for more details on the RFP process.
7. Participating teams’ submissions will be assessed by a 10-member Design Advisory Panel (DAP). Collectively, the panel members have deep and extensive experience and knowledge in landscape design, urban design, public space design, placemaking and micro mobility. See Annex C for the list of DAP members.
8. The RFP will be awarded to the team with the best proposal in Stage 2 in the second half of 2024. The successful team will then proceed to develop the Master Plan for the entire stretch of the NSC.
Continued Community Involvement
9. The appointed consultant will review the ideas gathered from engagements thus far (including the visioning workshops) and work with LTA and partner agencies to seek further feedback from stakeholders in developing the Master Plan for NSC surface streets. Besides considering the needs and aspirations of the community, the Master Plan will also take into account factors such as the broader development plans and transport connectivity for the surrounding areas.
10. The Master Plan is expected to be completed in 2026 and the repurposing of NSC’s surface streets will be implemented in stages from 2027, tied to the completion of the NSC tunnel and viaduct.
About NSC
The 21.5km North-South Corridor (NSC) is a multi-modal transportation corridor that will enhance connectivity from the northern region to the city, serving towns such as Sembawang, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, Novena and Rochor. It will support new developments in the northern region and alleviate congestion on the Central Expressway (CTE) and major arterial roads such as Thomson and Marymount Roads, facilitating quicker journeys between the north and city. It will also intersect and provide links to existing expressways, including the Seletar Expressway (SLE), Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and the East Coast Parkway (ECP), to improve the overall connectivity of the road network.
With more traffic being channelled to NSC’s 8.8km viaduct and 12.3km tunnel, surface streets along the corridor, which pass through diverse residential neighbourhoods, recreational spaces, industrial areas, and historic districts, will be repurposed to give more priority to walking, cycling, public transport, and community spaces.
Annex A: Towns Served and Recent Public Engagement Efforts
Annex B: Request for Proposal Process
Annex C: Evaluation Panel Details
