Transport — Topics

3 Mar 2015

Take-up Rate for Free Pre-peak Travel on MRT

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the take-up rate and effectiveness of free pre-peak MRT travel in spreading morning peak demand.
The free pre-peak travel scheme launched in June 2013 led to 7–8% of commuters shifting from peak to pre-peak periods.
The ratio of peak to pre-peak commuters heading to the city fell from 2.7 to about 2.1, showing reduced peak-hour congestion.
Peak-hour commuters who could not shift also benefited from less crowded rides as a result of the shift.

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3 Mar 2015

Travel Smart Pilot under Free Pre-peak Travel Scheme

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for Transport about the number of employers who signed up, dropped out, and the average number of staff willing to travel early under the Travel Smart pilot.
The Minister responded that 43 organisations have joined the Travel Smart Network since its launch, including 12 that were in the pilot phase, with no organisations dropping out.
A survey of 3,800 employees from the 12 pilot companies showed that about 12% shifted their travel out of the morning peak period of 8:30 am to 9:00 am.

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23 Feb 2015

Increase in Public Transport Operators' Operating Costs

The Parliamentary Secretary confirmed that both public transport operators experienced higher operating costs in 2014, with SBS Transit's costs rising by 11.8% ($98.6 million) and SMRT's increasing by 3.3% ($27.6 million) over the previous year.
He stated that the Ministry could not project specific cost increases for the next two years as the operators are publicly listed companies, but noted that while energy costs are currently lower, other expenses like staff salaries are expected to continue rising.
The Ministry also anticipates that operating and maintenance costs will increase from 2016 when the Land Transport Authority tightens operating standards.

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23 Feb 2015

Subsidies for Public Transport

The Singapore government has deployed about $14 billion in public transport subsidies over the past five years and committed $26 billion for the next five, averaging nearly $4 billion annually over ten years.
Subsidies cover infrastructure, rail and bus network costs, service enhancements to avoid fare hikes, and direct fare support for lower-income workers and persons with disabilities, though direct per-person averages are not calculated due to system differences.
The government emphasizes fare affordability for commuters but avoids comparing subsidy levels with other cities, noting differences in ridership, income, and operating costs.
Financial sustainability is prioritized through regular fare reviews to ensure the public transport system remains viable without excessive burden on taxpayers.

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13 Feb 2015

Extension of Free Pre-peak Travel Scheme

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked if the free pre-peak travel scheme for MRT could be made permanent.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport reported a 7-8% shift in commuters due to the trial, with a sustained ratio of 2.1 peak to pre-peak commuters.
The Land Transport Authority noted limited flexible work arrangements as a factor, prompting the Travel Smart programme with 43 companies to address this.
The Ministry will continue evaluating the trial and programme before deciding on extension or permanence.
The debate concluded with the matter to be further addressed in written answers.

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13 Feb 2015

Guidelines for Covered Pedestrian Overhead Bridges Spanning Across Expressways

The Ministry plans to cover all pedestrian overhead bridges over time, prioritizing those with high pedestrian usage or proximity to transport nodes.
The Ministry encourages a review of guidelines to include standard shelters for all bridges connecting residential estates, even without meeting transport node criteria.
Efforts are underway to make overhead bridges more accessible for the elderly, wheelchair users, cyclists, and parents with prams.

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13 Feb 2015

Special Goodwill Transport Vouchers in View of Lower Oil Prices

Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested extending special transport vouchers or fare rebates to all Singaporeans, particularly the Pioneer Generation, to commemorate SG50 and due to low oil prices.
The Minister for Transport replied that the Public Transport Fund would issue 250,000 vouchers worth $30 to needy families, using $7.5 million of the $13.5 million contributed by transport operators.
Mr Gan further proposed making all Singaporeans shareholders of public transport companies to share in profits and savings, similar to past Singtel special shares, for SG50.
The Minister noted that the shareholder proposal falls outside the Transport Ministry’s scope but would be raised with the Minister for Finance for consideration.
The debate highlighted both targeted support for needy families and broader ideas for national celebration through shared benefits from public transport assets.

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13 Feb 2015

Recent Fare Increases by Public Transport Operators

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah questioned the rationale for recent fare increases despite falling oil prices and high operator profits, suggesting the fare review formula should incorporate profitability and be revised earlier than 2017.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew explained that fare adjustments follow a formula tied to core CPI, wages, and energy costs, with annual reviews to avoid large jumps; the 2.8% increase resulted from a carry-over from 2013 and was mitigated by lower oil prices.
The Minister emphasized that operators need profits for capital investments (e.g., SMRT's $2 billion commitments) and that fares remain affordable compared to other cities and household incomes, with protections for vulnerable groups.
Debate highlighted that while cross-subsidization occurs from non-fare businesses, the fare formula aims to balance affordability with financial viability, and early changes are not planned as the current formula runs until 2017.

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12 Feb 2015

Municipal Development Plan for Bukit Batok

David Ong inquired about the municipal development plan for Bukit Batok and the surveys ensuring adequate infrastructure, amenities, and traffic flow amid new residential projects.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that HDB plans towns comprehensively, working with agencies to provide facilities and land for commercial, educational, and community uses, with new BTO projects launched in Bukit Batok.
He noted that infrastructure like MRT stations, a bus interchange, and road networks are in place, with a traffic consultant assessing road capacity to prevent gridlock as the population grows.

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12 Feb 2015

COEs for Different Types of Motorcycles

Mr. Zainal Sapari asked about motorcycle registration statistics by license class, the feasibility of separating the motorcycle COE category, and allowing unlimited five-year COE renewals to ease ownership costs.
The Parliamentary Secretary provided figures showing that Class 2B licenses accounted for 65% of annual motorcycle registrations in 2013-2014, followed by Class 2 licenses at 23% and Class 2A at 14%.
The government opposes splitting the motorcycle COE category further, as it would reduce quotas in each sub-category and cause price volatility.
Unlimited five-year COE renewals are not supported because they would reduce COE availability from deregistrations, disadvantaging prospective buyers.
The current separate motorcycle COE category was established to prevent competition with other vehicles, and the administration aims to maintain market stability.

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12 Feb 2015

Revamping COE Bidding System

Gan Thiam Poh proposed revamping the COE system to allow only applicants to bid for themselves and to implement a Pay-As-You-Bid model.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport responded that LTA had previously consulted on these ideas, with mixed feedback on banning dealer bids and noted that the current system is efficient and robust according to auction theory.
She emphasized that COE prices are ultimately driven by supply and demand, and the existing bidding model encourages truthful bidding and fair allocation.

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29 Jan 2015

Oversight of Operations and Safety of Sentosa Monorail

The Sentosa Monorail (Sentosa Express) is overseen by Sentosa Development Corporation, with operations managed by Sentosa Leisure Management and maintenance outsourced to SMRT and Hitachi, adhering to Japanese monorail standards and SCDF fire safety requirements.
A December 4 incident stranded 61 passengers for four hours due to a dislodged power line; the cause was identified as weakened tensile strength in the power line, leading to revised maintenance protocols and design improvements.
Safety measures include daily, weekly, and periodic inspections, independent audits by SDC, and design changes to prevent similar power line issues, though the monorail lacks evacuation walkways due to its global design norms.
The government emphasized that no Singapore agency directly certifies the monorail's operations, as it follows OEM guidelines and Japanese standards, with SCDF enforcing fire safety separately.
Recovery efforts during the incident involved a rescue train, but a slope-related power coupling issue delayed full evacuation, prompting manual and design revisions to enhance future reliability.

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29 Jan 2015

Rescue and Evacuation Procedures for MRT Network

The Minister for Transport outlined that Singapore’s MRT system includes smoke extraction and ventilation fans, fire-compliant train materials, and operator protocols to alert SCDF, route trains to safety, and enable evacuation with activated lights and air flow.
Regular joint exercises and checks are conducted by LTA with SCDF and SPF to test emergency readiness, such as the 2013 North East Line smoke incident drill shared with operators.
These measures address concerns about safeguards, rescue procedures, and preparedness following the Washington incident, ensuring passenger safety in tunnels and trains.

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20 Jan 2015

Feedback on Language Abilities of Bus Captains

The Land Transport Authority received around 200 pieces of feedback from 2012 to 2014 regarding bus captains' language abilities, primarily concerning their conversational English.
All bus captains must already demonstrate basic competency in conversational English before being deployed.
When legitimate feedback is received, the relevant public transport operator sends the bus captain for a refresher course and requires them to pass a language test before being redeployed.

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20 Jan 2015

Cost of Providing Free Transport for Older Singaporeans

Seah Kian Peng asked the cost of providing free MRT and bus rides for Singaporeans aged 60, 65, and 67, and whether free transport could be considered for those 67 and older.
Lui Tuck Yew estimated annual costs at $200 million for all 580,000 senior cardholders aged 60+, $125 million for those 65+, and $95 million for those 67+, noting these are conservative as they exclude non-cardholders and could rise with increased travel demand.
Lui highlighted that seniors already receive discounts of 25–59% off adult fares and a monthly concession pass at $60, and expressed reservations about moving to completely free transport due to the significant additional cost to taxpayers and other commuters, though the issue would be revisited periodically.

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20 Jan 2015

Season Parking Rates for Class 3 Passenger Vans

The season parking rates for Class 3 passenger vans are determined primarily by the vehicle's unladen weight, with vans under 1,800 kg allowed to use standard car lots at car rates.
The length and height of the van are not primary determinants for rates but are considered for practical parking suitability; vans that do not fit in standard lots must use heavy vehicle spaces.
Heavier vans (over 1,800 kg) are generally required to pay heavy vehicle season parking rates for safety and environmental reasons, though HDB may allow flexibility if the van fits in a car lot without obstruction.
Both URA and HDB set largely similar heavy vehicle season parking rates for comparable locations, with no separate rate distinction for the vehicle types between these agencies.

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20 Jan 2015

Update on Major Construction Works for North-South Expressway

The North-South Expressway construction will likely start in 2016 instead of 2015 due to ongoing detailed engineering studies and tender processes.
The locations of the 16 entrances and 17 exits are published on the LTA website, and construction will not overlap with the two MRT stations in Ang Mo Kio.
LTA will conduct traffic impact assessments and provide lane replacements where possible, but some inconvenience is expected during construction.

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20 Jan 2015

COEs for Commercial Vehicles

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about COE renewal for small delivery vans, whether different commercial vehicles fall into separate COE categories, and requested a review of vehicle policies with the advent of satellite-based ERP.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed that 31,000 small delivery vans will have COEs expiring by 2017, explained that all goods vehicles and commercial buses are in Category C to avoid volatility, and outlined existing measures like lower taxes, flexible renewals, and early turnover schemes to help SMEs manage vehicle costs.
Dr Lee pressed for specific support for SMEs competing with larger firms for COEs and asked about COE availability over the next three years, to which the Ministry responded that future COE supply depends on deregistration rates and growth policies, making precise forecasts difficult.
The debate highlighted ongoing challenges for small businesses in accessing COEs, with the Ministry emphasizing that while creating new categories is carefully considered, current measures aim to assist SMEs without destabilizing the COE system.

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19 Jan 2015

Findings of Infiltrations at SMRT's Bishan Train Depot

David Ong inquired about the findings of investigations into the infiltrations at SMRT's Bishan train depot and the measures implemented to prevent future incidents.
Lui Tuck Yew responded by directing Ong to a prior answer given to Lim Biow Chuan's related question, which covers both the investigation findings and preventive measures.
The debate centers on ensuring transparency regarding the security breach and the effectiveness of countermeasures to safeguard critical rail infrastructure.
No additional details were provided in this exchange, with the response relying on an existing parliamentary answer for clarification.

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19 Jan 2015

Rationale for Fee to be Paid for Vehicle Owners to Retain and Reuse Existing Car Licence Plate Numbers

Patrick Tay questioned the $1,300 fee for retaining and reusing a vehicle's existing licence plate and asked if it could be reduced or waived.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that LTA provides free system-generated numbers, but owners who want custom numbers must pay a fee.
The $1,300 fee matches the minimum cost for using a bid number, which includes a $1,000 minimum bid plus a $300 replacement fee.
The fee is set to maintain consistency between choosing a new number and reusing an existing one.
The rationale is to balance the option for personalized numbers with the cost of administering the system.

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