Transport — Topics

8 Feb 2013

Installation of Noise Barriers along Key Expressways

Zainal Sapari asked if concrete noise barriers could be installed along key expressways near residential areas due to high traffic volume.
The Minister for Transport, Lui Tuck Yew, responded that LTA will conduct a trial of noise barriers at selected road viaduct stretches.
The trial aims to evaluate the barriers' effectiveness and address challenges in their installation, maintenance, and design.
LTA is finalizing trial locations and will engage specialist contractors to propose suitable noise barrier designs.

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8 Feb 2013

Refining the COE System

Denise Phua proposed a balloting system for fixed-price COEs by user categories to address escalating prices, but Minister Josephine Teo rejected it, citing risks of speculative demand, black markets, and lessons from Beijing's failed lottery system.
Phua urged the Ministry to study global COE models and engage Singaporeans in refining the system, which Teo agreed to consider by sharing insights and exploring alternatives like category redefinition.
Christopher de Souza requested priority for commercial vehicles in COE tweaks, with Teo noting existing ARF concessions for businesses but committing to further review.
Lim Wee Kiak inquired about the timeline for COE review, with Teo acknowledging the complexity and urgency but not providing a specific completion date.

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7 Feb 2013

Elderly-friendly Road Safety Features

Denise Phua Lay Peng proposed estate-specific elderly-proof road safety master plans for areas with high elderly populations, such as North Bridge Road and Kampong Glam.
The Parliamentary Secretary affirmed that road safety is a top priority, highlighting existing measures like traffic-calming features, pedestrian refuges, lift retrofits, and extended crossing times for the elderly.
The Ministry expressed openness to the idea and offered to collaborate with MPs to develop tailored plans for areas with many elderly residents.
Phua emphasized the need for priority in elderly-heavy estates to ensure timely implementation of safety facilities.
Both sides agreed to work together to enhance road safety, particularly for the elderly, across relevant constituencies.

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6 Feb 2013

Licences for Private Bus Operators

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked if the Ministry would issue licences to more private operators to fill service gaps and review SMRT and SBS Transit routes to create competition and improve efficiency.
The Minister stated the Public Transport Council regularly reviews schemes for private operators, with current examples including 90 Premium Bus Services and 83 Shuttle Bus Services run by multiple licensees.
The Ministry will continue to review and potentially implement more non-basic public transport bus services to better serve local communities.
While longer-term issues like route reviews for competition will be considered, the immediate focus is on improving service levels through initiatives like the Bus Service Enhancement Programme.

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6 Feb 2013

Campaign on Good Driving Habits

The Ministry of Home Affairs conducts public education on good driving habits through various platforms and enforces traffic rules, noting that tailgating is not a specific offence but can lead to charges for careless driving, while road hogging is an offence with demerit points and an average of 1,750 summonses issued annually over the past three years.
In response to concerns about road safety, the Ministry plans to deploy more Traffic Police officers and increase enforcement to address errant driving behaviours.
The Ministry will use more technology, including traffic cameras, to detect violations, and will consider installing cameras along Yishun Avenue 1 if deemed necessary.

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6 Feb 2013

Effectiveness of Public Transport Operator's Early Travel Discount Scheme

SMRT's Early Travel Discount Scheme has led to a 3% to 4% shift of commuters from the 8:00 am to 9:00 am morning peak period for MRT travel into the CBD.
The scheme was enhanced from 10 cents to 30 cents in 2011 and to 50 cents in 2012, and was extended to include the Circle Line in August 2012.
The Minister of State for Transport noted that changing travel behaviours takes time and the scheme will continue to be monitored before any further changes are decided.
Suggestions to extend the scheme to other high-traffic stations, other lines, non-peak hours, and other operators are being considered for the next review.
The Ministry assured that it does not rule out testing the scheme in other possible sites or having it run concurrently with other operators.

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5 Feb 2013

Naming Rights of Public Infrastructure and Roads

Mrs Lina Chiam asked whether the Ministry would consider selling naming rights of public infrastructure and roads to private entities and involving the public in naming exercises to foster public belonging, and sought an explanation of the current naming process.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Government retains naming rights and does not sell them, though some public buildings or roads may be named after organisations or foundations to recognise their philanthropic contributions.
He noted that public agencies do involve the community in naming infrastructure, citing examples like "My Waterway @ Punggol" and "Rail Corridor," which resulted from public consultations.
Proposed names are evaluated by the Street and Building Names Board for clarity, cultural relevance, and to reflect the character of the place.
The current process prioritises clear directional cues and considers historical and cultural contexts when selecting names.

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5 Feb 2013

Modesty Outrage on Crowded Public Trains and Buses

The number of outrage of modesty cases on public transport has increased over the past five years, but the rate per one million passenger trips has remained stable due to rising ridership.
Police use a comprehensive approach including patrols by Public Transport Security Command and Transit Security Officers, as well as crime prevention posters to deter and detect such offences.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report incidents promptly, while continuing to enhance measures to address these opportunistic crimes.

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5 Feb 2013

Preventing Runaway COE Prices

The Ministry of Transport explained that COE prices are market-driven, influenced by demand, economic conditions, and financing options, and noted that separate bidding categories and lower fees for commercial vehicles help businesses.
Several MPs raised concerns about high COE prices skewing access toward the wealthy, squeezing out middle-class buyers, and hurting SMEs, suggesting reviews based on car value or owner profiles to improve affordability and fairness.
The Ministry acknowledged issues like the closing price gap between car categories and the impact on businesses, and indicated openness to reviewing COE categorization and rebalancing allocations while cautioning that implementing first-time buyer schemes or differentiating needs is complex and prone to circumvention.

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5 Feb 2013

Impact of Public Transport Fare Increases on Transport Workers' Salaries

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew defended the profit-oriented model for public transport operators (PTOs), stating it drives cost efficiency and reduces the need for higher fares or greater government subsidies compared to nationalized systems in other cities.
He explained that profitability metrics like Return on Total Assets (ROTA) are used instead of Return on Equity (ROE) to assess PTOs, and that recent fare increases have been lower than in other major cities while fares remain relatively affordable.
The Minister noted that fare adjustments over the past decade have not kept pace with rising operational costs like diesel prices and wages, posing challenges for PTOs to fund wage increases without fare hikes or subsidies.
Parliament members raised concerns about whether transport workers' salaries should be included in the fare formula, the impact of PTO profits on service quality, and the need for targeted subsidies for vulnerable groups, with the Minister committing to review these through the Fare Review Mechanism Committee.
The debate also highlighted future financial commitments for PTOs, such as SMRT’s $1.75 billion payment for assets, and the government’s role in ensuring service standards and long-term sustainability amid profit motives.

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5 Feb 2013

Car Ownership Trends

Over the last five years, Singapore's car population grew by an average of 4% annually, reaching 617,556 cars by end-2012, with about 45% of households owning a car and 8-9% owning more than one.
The growth rate has slowed to 1.9% per annum in recent years due to reduced allowable vehicle growth rates, which have been cut from 3% to 0.5% per annum to ensure sustainability amid land constraints.
Road infrastructure occupies nearly 12% of Singapore's land, and future vehicle growth will be moderated further, with projections indicating continued low growth rates.
A study on environmental impact was conducted under the National Climate Change Strategy 2012, leading to initiatives like the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme to reduce transport emissions.

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5 Feb 2013

Distribution of COEs

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar proposed a separate COE category for first-time car buyers or first household/business vehicles to provide lower prices, while Mary Liew asked about households with multiple cars and equitable ownership alternatives.
The Minister of State for Transport, Mrs Josephine Teo, explained that while car ownership has risen to 45% of households, favoring first-time buyers could be unfair to growing families or expanding businesses and might lead to policy avoidance, such as registering cars under other names.
Mrs Teo emphasized that Singapore’s land scarcity means car ownership is not a basic necessity, and the Vehicle Quota System is the best way to allocate limited resources, with focus instead on improving public transport and taxi services for mobility needs.
Dr Intan suggested changing car loan structures to offer 100% loans for first cars and lower loans for subsequent ones, which the Minister committed to reviewing, alongside broader discussions on equitable COE distribution.

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4 Feb 2013

Take-up Rate for Large Vehicle Parking Lots

The Minister reported that there are 39,500 heavy vehicle parking lots for 33,000 registered vehicles, with most privately operated in industrial areas and the rest provided by URA and HDB at residential fringes, some on temporary land.
HDB has no plans to build more heavy vehicle lots within residential estates due to competing land uses and concerns about traffic nuisance and hazards to residents.
LTA requires heavy vehicle owners to secure designated parking before registration, and businesses are urged to arrange long-term parking and transport solutions for drivers rather than leaving it to individuals.

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4 Feb 2013

Sheltered Links between HDB Estates and MRT Stations

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Ministry for Transport to consider building sheltered linkways between HDB estates and MRT stations, specifically from Tanjong Rhu estate to Mountbatten MRT station.
Lui Tuck Yew stated that the Land Transport Authority, under the Walk2Ride programme, will expand sheltered linkway networks to connect various facilities within 400 metres of all MRT stations over the next five years.
The Walk2Ride programme specifically includes connecting Tanjong Rhu estate to Mountbatten MRT station via sheltered linkways along Mountbatten Road.
The expansion aims to improve pedestrian connectivity to schools, healthcare facilities, public amenities, and offices near MRT stations.

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4 Feb 2013

Traffic Accidents near Dunearn Road Exit on PIE

Dr Lam Pin Min asked about the number, causes, and safety measures for accidents on the PIE towards Tuas between BKE and the Dunearn Road slip road over the last three years.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew reported 32 accidents in 2010, 29 in 2011, and 18 in 2012, primarily due to drivers failing to control their vehicles and maintain proper lookout.
Safety measures include a reduced speed limit of 80 km/h for this stretch, along with Curve Alignment Markers and broader lane markings to assist drivers navigating the bend and slight slope.

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4 Feb 2013

Impact of Recent Illegal Bus Drivers Strike on Industrial Relations and Dependency on Foreign Workers

The debate focused on the 2012 illegal strike by SMRT Chinese bus drivers, highlighting grievances over pay disparities, insensitive communication, and accommodation, with the Minister emphasizing that while contractual issues are between employer and employee, statutory breaches are enforced and illegal actions are dealt with under the law.
Key lessons included strengthening grievance handling systems, better protecting and educating vulnerable foreign workers, and reinforcing tripartism, with calls for proactive measures in essential services like HR audits and improved intelligence to prevent disruptions.
Discussions centered on enhancing support for foreign workers, including union access (noting current low membership but efforts to increase it), better dormitory access to grievance channels, and ensuring fair contracts, while maintaining Singapore's reputation as a fair destination for foreign labor.

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14 Jan 2013

Provision of Sheltered or Underground Pedestrian Walkway Linking Marina Bay Station to Marina Bay Financial Centre and Surrounding New Developments

Gan Thiam Poh inquired about plans to build a sheltered or underground pedestrian walkway linking Marina Bay Station to Marina Bay Financial Centre and nearby developments, seeking a timeline for such facilities.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that temporary sheltered walkways will be provided during ongoing road realignments due to construction of Downtown Line 1 and the Marina Coastal Expressway.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority plans an extensive underground pedestrian network connecting Marina Bay developments to MRT stations, to be built progressively as surrounding land parcels are developed.

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14 Jan 2013

Loan-To-Value Ratio of COE Financing for Private Vehicles

Ong Teng Koon asked if the Ministry would consider reducing the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for COE financing for private vehicles and how a 10% drop in the LTV ratio would affect COE prices.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, for the Prime Minister, stated that high COE prices are driven by factors like income growth, low interest rates, reduced vehicle growth, and fewer de-registrations, which are expected to persist.
The government is monitoring the impact of private transport costs on business and inflation, looking holistically at measures to promote COE market stability, and investing in public transport as a sustainable long-term solution.
Regarding the LTV ratio impact, Tharman noted that while lower LTV ratios could constrain credit for vehicle purchases, isolating their effect on COE prices is difficult due to other influencing factors, with past loan limits showing little discernible impact on COE prices.

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14 Jan 2013

Minimising Delays in Flight Take-Offs and Landings at Changi Airport

The Minister for Transport reported that a Steering Committee was formed in early 2012 to address flight delays at Changi Airport, which had risen due to a sharp increase in air traffic movements.
Several measures were implemented, including changes to air traffic control procedures, increased runway availability, and collaboration with airlines to reduce runway occupancy time, leading to a 50% year-on-year decline in departure delays in the second half of 2012 despite continued traffic growth.
The airport has capacity for further growth, with studies indicating potential for a 40% increase in two-runway capacity, and a decision on the civilian use of Runway 3 is pending to further enhance capacity.

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14 Jan 2013

Train Noise Measurement Study

LTA completed an island-wide MRT noise measurement study in May 2012, which found noise levels exceeding guidelines in several locations, especially near turnout sections of rail viaducts.
A trial at Jurong East and Bishan showed that noise barriers could reduce train noise by about five decibels over an hour, leading LTA to award a contract in October 2012 to pilot barriers at Tampines, Jurong East, and Toh Guan.
The pilots aim to determine the most efficient design and installation methods, with findings to help LTA develop mitigation plans and share details at a later date.

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