“Specific to Service 167, LTA had earlier taken steps to lengthen the headway as lower demand was observed after the opening of TEL3,” said the authority.
“Taking into account the sustained reduction in demand and availability of other alternatives, LTA assessed that discontinuation would be the optimal approach to reallocate finite resources.”
“RIDICULOUS” CHANGES
But some commuters CNA spoke to on Friday evening disagreed with LTA’s assessments.
One of them, a man in his late twenties who did not want to be named, said he had been taking bus service 167 “his whole life”.
“I take 167 on the weekends. It is still extremely full going to Orchard, so I don’t see a drop in the number of commuters on the bus route,” said the man at a bus stop outside Upper Thomson MRT station.
He added that once service 167 ceases operations, he would have to take service 980 to Novena before transferring to the MRT for another journey to Orchard station.
The frequency of service 980 – which serves a similar sector as service 167 between Sembawang and Thomson Road – will be increased as part of LTA’s adjustments.
A 55-year-old man told CNA he usually travels from Casuarina Road to Upper Thomson Road via service 167 as often as twice a day.
“The wait is very long, usually about 20 minutes,” Mr Wong said. “The only other option is 980, but they usually come together anyway.”
The commuter, who was with his wife, said they had considered selling their car in favour of public transport, but have now dropped that option.
“We rely on this bus route a lot. I come here (Upper Thomson Road) to get food all the time. Now that the route is shutting down, I have yet to make alternative plans,” said Mr Wong, a full-time trader.
“167 is easily the most used route from our area in Casuarina,” said Mrs Wong. The general manager at a travel company said that the route is the most convenient bus route for her and her husband, as they often use it to go to the city as well. The couple declined to give their full names.
“I don’t believe the ridership is low,” she said. “So many people board the bus in our area”.
Mrs Wong said it was “ridiculous” that the 167 route would cease to exist soon. “I hope they come up with something to service our area, since the nearest MRT station is not even that near anyway.”