The debate over the alignment of the Cross-Island Line (CRL) in Singapore has pitted environmental activists against local residents of the Thomson area. How will the government come to a consensus on the CRL? That's up to you to negotiate!

1. How do we decide
what is good for
society?

2. The Cross-Island Line (CRL)

3. The Cross-Island Line (CRL)

4. The Cross-Island Line (CRL)
BACKGROUND
A new MRT line (ETA 2030) that will connect Jurong to Changi
• “The Government is currently studying two underground alignments in
the vicinity of Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR)”

5. The Cross-Island Line (CRL)
Groups that are affected:
1. Environmental interest groups
2. Residents living along the alternative route
3. Owners of businesses along the alternative route
4. MRT commuters who would benefit from the CRL
5. Taxpayers
6. The Government of Singapore

6. Environmental interest groups
• “Let’s develop Singapore while respecting nature.”
• “We’re not saying ‘Don’t build an MRT line’. We’re saying build it while
incorporating and respecting nature.”
• In the greater scheme of things, there are some advantages actually to
going around the nature reserve in this case…there might be some
advantages in the longer route – potentially greater access to more
people, because it would go through communities that would then be
able to take advantage of this Cross Island Line.

8. Thomson residents
• “If the option to go around the nature reserve is accepted,
"underground MRT tunnels will go through homes, businesses and
buildings, and acquisition may be needed", the authority said.”
• "The MRT line's construction will affect us, and not just in terms of
noise. There is a strong possibility of some of us losing our homes.
We'd rather the line go through the reserve," said the manager in a
scaffolding company.
• "No matter how much money they offer, I still wouldn't want to
move.“
• Marymount station, on the Circle Line, is a 10-minute walk from his
home. The future Upper Thomson MRT station will be five minutes
away. "Any added benefit from a new station will be insignificant."

9. Businesses along Thomson Rd
• The second route will result in “moderate” impact to residents and
businesses from noise, and other construction-related
inconveniences.
• “Skirting the reserve could mean the ability to pick up more passengers
and spur more business activity in affected areas”
• None of these residents and businesses will be affected by the first
route.

11. The Cross-Island Line (CRL)

12. Frequent MRT commuters
• The second route lengthens end-to-end travel time by six minutes.
• It may take two more years to complete the environment and
technical studies, as well as public consultations needed for the
Government to reach a decision on the Cross Island Line project and
its exact alignment, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
• I'm not sure we can just brush aside the extra six minutes just like that
because for MRT commuters, even an extra half a minute is terrible.
• “Commuters from Ang Mo Kio can reach any part of the island using
public transport within less than one hour, basically saving easily 30
to 40 minutes of travel time”

14. Taxpayers
• “The additional 5km of tunnelling required for the second route is
estimated to cost $2 billion, or approximately 5 per cent of total
construction cost. This excludes land acquisition costs. Further costs
may be incurred from operating a longer CRL”
• The $2 billion must be viewed in the context of the financial viability
of the entire CRL and how many people it will serve.
• “There may be construction challenges and the costs to maintain the
line may go up.”

16. Government
““The Government will consider the views from all stakeholders
before deciding on the final CRL alignment. Apart from environmental
impact, the decision on the final CRL alignment will also take into account
the need to maximise benefits to commuters and minimising impact
to residents and businesses, the need for land acquisition, and costs
to taxpayers.”

17. Environmental interest groups
• Emphasise environmental impact
• Convince government to use
alternative route
Thomson Residents
• Emphasise inconvenience and
potential loss of land
• Convince government to use the
original route
Businesses along Thomson
• Emphasise loss of revenue
• Demand compensation OR to use
original route
Frequent MRT commuters
• Emphasise importance of
finishing the line quickly
• Convince government to start
building ASAP
Taxpayers
• Emphasise importance of
building the line cheaply
• Convince government to take the
cheapest possible route
Government
• MAKE A DECISION!!!

18. At the end of the day, not everyone will be
convinced, because we have conflicting
objectives and needs in the country. But all
views should be taken into consideration. The
process is as important as the decision.