UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF TRANSIT MALLS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

With increased emphasis on public transport, transit oriented development is becoming increasingly important in recent years. Retail spaces surrounding these transit oriented development are top profit generators for its operators. With the rise in population and the increase in demand for public transport, the need for retail convenience is becoming more prominent. Retail spaces in transit malls have to cater to the retail needs of commuters who are transiting from different modes of transport. Transit malls in Singapore will have to stay relevant in providing and fulfil the needs of the commuters. This paper aims to identify the untapped potential of local transit malls by reviewing the lack of commuters’ satisfaction towards existing transit malls in Singapore. The attributes affecting the level of satisfaction will be identified. The strategies adopted by successful overseas transit malls will be adapted and recommendations will be made to the local transit malls. Questionnaires targeting different age groups will be conducted to comprehend the level of commuters’ satisfaction and to identify the areas of improvements. The significance of this survey allows greater understanding in commuters’ motivations and ensures relevance with our target audience. In addition, archival research will be conducted on existing transit mall, specifically SMRT Xchange. The results showed that Retail Mix, Retail Convenience and Sustainability are the top factors that significantly contributed to the dissatisfaction of the commuters, with Retail Convenience being the most influential attribute. The two recommendations made were to increase Retail Convenience of existing transit malls and focus on the future of Transit Oriented Development.