Ministry of Transport

We will continue to build a sustainable and people-centred land transport system that contributes to the Government's efforts to make Singapore a most liveable city. In the next few years, we will significantly raise the service standards and increase the capacity of our public transport system. We will further grow the maritime and aviation sectors to strengthen Singapore's global connectivity and economic competitiveness.

We will deliver a higher quality, better integrated public transport system with more connections and better service.

We have gradually introduced a new industry model for the public transport sector. We have introduced the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF) for the Downtown Line and future lines, and are discussing with the public transport operators (PTOs) to possibly transit the existing rail licences to the NRFF on mutually acceptable terms. The NRFF lowers barriers to entry with a shortened licence period and Government ownership of operating assets, which also enables the Government to respond more quickly to changes in demographics and commuter needs and expectations with capacity and service enhancements.

We are also restructuring the public bus industry. We have started experimenting with contracting private bus operators to run some public bus routes. Moving ahead, we will adopt a contracting framework for all public bus services, and tender out bus routes, which will be determined by the Government, to be run by private sector operators. We will own all key assets, such as bus depots and buses, to lower barriers to entry and inject greater contestability into the industry. Under this model, the Government can adjust bus capacity in a more responsive manner, and more holistically plan and optimise the overall rail-bus networks, while bus operators would be spurred by greater competition to innovate and provide better service in a cost-competitive manner. The Government also intends to set service standards higher than today's regulatory standards under the new bus model. The transition of the public bus industry will be gradual, to provide reasonable business continuity for the incumbent PTOs but, at the same time, allow experienced and committed bus operators, including foreign operators, to enter the market.

By 2030, our rail network will double in length and our rail density will be comparable to New York City and London today. In the next three years, new lines and extensions will open, with the North-South Line extension in 2014, Tuas West extension in 2016, and the 42-km Downtown Line fully opened in 2017, expanding our rail network by some 25%. We will upgrade the signalling system for our oldest lines to run trains at higher frequencies, and

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add 83 more trains to reduce waiting time and crowding. Commuters can also look forward to a more reliable train network as major upgrades to the track, train and signalling systems are completed.

We will enhance our initiatives to encourage commuters to travel during off-peak periods to optimise the capacity we have in our transport system. The free pre-peak travel scheme will be extended, and we will further engage employers to support flexi-work arrangements. This will enable employees to travel comfortably outside peak periods, and also help them better juggle work, family and personal commitments.

To complement mass public transport, we will ensure that more taxis are on the roads to meet commuter demand. We will facilitate better matching of taxi demand and supply, through providing better information to commuters and drivers, and harnessing technology.

We will need to have regular fare adjustments, to ensure the financial sustainability of our public transport system. However, we will, above all, keep fares affordable. Whenever necessary, we will introduce and enhance financial assistance measures to help needy Singaporeans cope with their public transport expenditures.

To ensure a liveable city, we will develop a greater variety of alternative, sustainable transport options. We will build over 200 km of sheltered walkways starting this year, and a comprehensive island-wide cycling path network totalling over 700 km.

At the same time, we will continue to encourage commuters to rely less on private cars. This is necessary, given the limited land for more roads. We will review the vehicle population growth rate this year to ensure that the vehicle population remains within what our road network can accommodate. We will give more support to alternatives to owning a car, such as car-sharing, to cater to those who have the occasional desire to use a car.

To future-proof our public transport system, we will continue to improve accessibility for the elderly and less mobile, with more barrier-free routes to our MRT stations and bus interchanges. We will install more lifts at overhead bridges and implement the Green Man Plus scheme at more pedestrian crossings. Pedestrian-friendly streets, and more School Zones and Silver Zones with enhanced pedestrian-safety features will be implemented.

We will also enhance our schemes to ensure that our vehicle fleets are less pollutive. We will partner the industry to trial the use of electric vehicles on a larger scale, and study the possible adoption of diesel hybrid public buses.

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Our maritime and aviation sectors provide global connectivity for Singaporeans, businesses in Singapore, and our goods and services, and are key pillars of our economy.

We will ensure that we maintain our position as one of the world's premier hub port. We will push ahead with the expansion of Pasir Panjang Terminal and the long-term development of Tuas Terminal, to ensure sufficient infrastructure capacity. We will continue to work with the industry and our neighbours to enhance the safety, security and accessibility of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and we will also ensure safe shipping in our own waters.

To secure our future as a leading International Maritime Centre, we will step up efforts to attract and anchor ship owners and operators in Singapore. We will broaden and deepen the range of supporting maritime services in Singapore, such as maritime legal firms, shipping banks and marine insurance.

With demand for air travel expected to continue growing strongly, we will be expanding our airport infrastructure. In addition to Project Jewel and Terminal 4, we have begun preparations and planning for a three-runway system and a fifth terminal. To increase the capacity of our airport, we will also enhance our air traffic management capacity and capabilities, and introduce new concepts and processes.

At the same time, in order to ensure that both our seaport and airport are able to grow, given national manpower constraints, we will be working with the industries and educational and research institutes to implement productivity initiatives. We will also continue our efforts to attract and develop talent for the maritime and aviation sectors, which provide many rewarding and quality jobs for Singaporeans.

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