Transport — Topics

12 Nov 2012

Road Safety in School Zones

The Minister outlined current measures including Enhanced School Zones with red textured surfaces and signs, traffic impact studies for new schools, regular road safety talks for students, and staff deployment at school grounds and external areas during arrival and dismissal times.
Following recent accidents, schools conducted fresh risk assessments, leading to specific enhancements such as raising a zebra crossing and installing railings at Dunman Secondary School in collaboration with LTA.
MOE and schools will continue working with LTA and Traffic Police to review the adequacy of road safety measures around schools, emphasizing shared responsibility among motorists, teachers, parents, and students.

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12 Nov 2012

Property Price Differences Based on Proximity To MRT Stations

The Minister explained that new private housing in the Central Region costs 44% more per square foot than similar housing outside the Central Region, while new 3-room public housing flats in the Central Region are about 40% more expensive than comparable flats elsewhere.
Housing projects, both public and private, located near MRT stations typically command a price premium, though the exact amount varies depending on factors like specific location and nearby amenities such as schools and shopping centres.
The response highlighted that price differences are influenced by multiple variables beyond just MRT proximity, including the broader regional context (central versus suburban) and the presence of additional facilities.

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12 Nov 2012

Abuse of Bus and Taxi Drivers

Since 2011, taxi operators received 84 complaints of physical and verbal abuse against taxi drivers, with six criminal charges filed, while public bus operators reported 67 cases of physical abuse against bus drivers, resulting in 41 criminal charges.
Operators and authorities treat abuse seriously, providing training for drivers to handle difficult passengers and ensuring emergency assistance mechanisms are in place.
Taxi drivers can activate a distress button or use walkie-talkies to alert their call centre, which may contact the police if needed, and bus drivers can use an emergency button to alert the Bus Operation Control Centre for police assistance and on-site support.

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12 Nov 2012

Illegal Modifications to Vehicles

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport for statistics on fines, jail terms, and enforcement related to illegal vehicle modifications over the past three years.
The Land Transport Authority issued 2,645 summonses in 2010, rising to 7,322 in 2011, with 7,239 in the first eight months of the current year, including increasing numbers of motorcycles caught.
No offenders were jailed during the reported periods, and no summonses were issued against workshop owners, though enforcement is being tightened and workshops are under review.

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12 Nov 2012

Employment for People with Disabilities

About 3% of Singapore's resident population has a disability, with varying degrees of severity, and there is no definitive data on their full-time and part-time employment numbers.
The Open Door Fund has supported 220 companies and 650 persons with disabilities since 2007, disbursing $3.2 million, while the Special Employment Credit has benefited about 1,200 employers and nearly 2,000 persons with disabilities.
The government supports job training through SPED schools, vocational education, and Centres of Training and Integration, though specific figures on beneficiaries over the past five years are not provided.
Efforts to improve public transport accessibility include creating barrier-free routes in MRT/LRT stations, making bus shelters barrier-free, and aiming for 100% wheelchair-accessible buses by 2020, with 54% currently meeting this standard.
Financial assistance for taxi costs is available through the Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Grant, LTA Cares Fund, and Trailblazer-Chan Chiew Ping Special Schools Fund for persons with disabilities who are working or studying.

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12 Nov 2012

Recent Steep Increases in ERP Charges

David Ong questioned the rationale behind the sudden steep increases in ERP charges at six gantries on the CTE and ECP.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that ERP rates are reviewed quarterly and during school holidays, with adjustments made based on traffic speeds.
The specific increases were due to traffic speeds falling below the optimal range of 45km/h to 65km/h at certain gantries during peak hours.
Rates were increased by $1 at two locations where speeds had trended down, specifically on the CTE and ECP during weekday mornings.
The response justified the adjustments as part of a standard process to manage traffic flow and maintain optimal speeds.

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12 Nov 2012

Start of Operations For Punggol LRT West Loop

Dr Janil Puthucheary asked for a commencement date for the Punggol LRT West Loop, aligning with HDB's Phase 2 launch timeline.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew stated the loop will open in tandem with developments in Punggol West, with LTA monitoring and coordinating with the operator.
LTA is reviewing public transport plans for Punggol, including enhanced bus services and new routes under the Bus Services Enhancement Programme.

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12 Nov 2012

Taxi Fare Cheats

In the first six months of the year, 32 complaints were received for passengers failing to pay taxi fares, with an annual average of 10 complaints between 2008 and 2011, rising to 66 complaints in the latter half of 2011.
Over the last five years, only one person has been convicted for cheating taxi drivers under the Public Transport Council Act, with two other cases currently pending court mention.
Taxi operators have introduced a standard form and electronic submission options for drivers to report non-payment, and they assist in recovering fares or refer cases to authorities if needed.

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12 Nov 2012

Road Safety near Schools

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked for additional measures and updates on road safety around schools following two fatal accidents at Sembawang Primary School.
The Senior Minister of State confirmed existing safety features in the area and noted that Traffic Police is conducting observations and investigations to determine further actions.
Authorities will engage local stakeholders and review specific concerns, while also raising awareness through letters to parents and developing age-appropriate road safety education with the Ministry of Education.

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16 Oct 2012

Empty Plots of Land around Woodlands Civic Centre

Ong Teng Koon asked if there are plans to develop the empty plots around Woodlands Civic Centre and whether the finalisation of the Woodlands MRT station on the Thomson Line has accelerated development timelines.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed there are plans to develop the land around Woodlands MRT into a regional centre to bring jobs closer to homes.
He stated that with the MRT station location finalised, the Urban Redevelopment Authority has begun reviewing development plans as part of the current Master Plan exercise.

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16 Oct 2012

Allocation of Public Transport Routes

LTA uses a multi-source data approach, including ticketing data on ridership patterns, field surveys at transport nodes, and community feedback, to decide on public transport route allocation.
While the process is rigorous and includes forward planning with land agencies for new developments, requests for route changes are constrained by resource and financial limitations.
The Minister did not directly address whether there are gaps in the data or if more funding is required for user-needs analysis, focusing instead on the existing holistic data collection methods.

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16 Oct 2012

Taxi Drivers Charging More Than Metered Fare

Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Transport about the number of taxi drivers penalised for charging more than the metered fare and how many were repeat offenders over the last two years.
Lui Tuck Yew responded that 87 drivers were penalised in 2010, with 14 being repeat offenders, and 80 in 2011, with 18 repeats.
From January to August 2012, the number dropped to 37 drivers, six of whom were repeat offenders.

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16 Oct 2012

Speeding Offences and Accidents Attributed to Larger Vehicles

David Ong inquired about the number of speeding offences and accidents involving Class 4A and above vehicles over the past two years.
Teo Chee Hean reported an increase in heavy vehicle speeding violations from 584 in 2010 to 1,182 in 2011, with accident figures showing 246 accidents in 2010 (66% attributable to heavy vehicle drivers) and 237 in 2011 (55% attributable), and noted a further improvement in 2012 with 49 accidents in the first half compared to 77 in the same period of 2011.
The Traffic Police enforces strict measures against errant heavy vehicle drivers and collaborates with stakeholders to enhance road safety awareness and driver skills.

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16 Oct 2012

Damages Caused by MRT Construction in Watten Estate

The property damage in Watten Estate was attributed to ground settlement caused by an unexpected and rapid drawdown of groundwater during Downtown Line 2 construction, with LTA taking immediate stabilisation measures and committing to full rectification after tunnelling completion.
The Transport Minister outlined that LTA conducts comprehensive pre-construction assessments and continuous monitoring, though Singapore's complex geology makes all risks impossible to foresee, as seen in previous incidents and the Watten Estate timeline where sensor data and resident reports prompted action.
MPs raised concerns about preventive measures and the broader impact on nearby areas like Hwa Chong Institution, with LTA affirming ongoing vigilance and responsive steps to address resident feedback and potential risks.

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15 Oct 2012

Motor Vehicles Which Caught Fire on the Roads

From 2011 to 21 September 2012, 26 taxi fires were reported to SCDF, with most caused by engine overheating and a few by electrical faults or accidents.
Taxi operators perform regular maintenance and inspections every six months to ensure vehicles are roadworthy.
LTA mandates compulsory inspections to support safety measures for drivers and passengers.

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15 Oct 2012

Measures to Ensure Businesses Benefit from F1 Night Race and Related Events

The Ministry of Trade and Industry highlighted that the F1 Singapore Grand Prix has generated significant economic benefits, including about $150 million in incremental tourism receipts per race, with roughly one-third of that amount going directly to retail and F&B sectors, which are largely SMEs.
To address short-term disruptions to businesses in the Marina Bay area during the race, government agencies have reduced the duration of road closures and are working with the race promoter to improve access, including via extended MRT operating hours and coordinated vehicle access for key personnel.
The government agencies and the race promoter are collaborating with local businesses to leverage the high visitor volume during the event and are open to further suggestions to help businesses, particularly SMEs, benefit more from the F1 race and related activities.

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15 Oct 2012

Plans for Sungei Road Market

Ms Faizah Jamal asked about the government's plans for Sungei Road Market and support for vendors affected by the Jalan Besar MRT Station construction.
Vivian Balakrishnan stated the area is zoned for residential and commercial development after the MRT station completes in 2016, with vendors given advanced notice to cease operations.
Vendors may bid for hawker stalls elsewhere, while agencies will assist those leaving the trade with job opportunities and financial aid.

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15 Oct 2012

Regulation of Taxi Fares

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Transport Minister about actions against taxi drivers overcharging beyond metered rates and whether regulating fares is a possible solution.
Lui Tuck Yew stated that taxi drivers must charge only company-set fares and LTA will take stern action, including fines, demerit points, suspension, or licence revocation for overcharging.
The Minister explained that taxi fares were deregulated in 2008 to allow market flexibility and argued that re-regulating fares would not prevent overcharging and would reduce market responsiveness.

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15 Oct 2012

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Road Traffic Act, with the Minister of State for Transport Mrs Josephine Teo presenting it on behalf of the President.
The bill underwent its First Reading and was scheduled for a Second Reading at the next parliamentary sitting, following standard legislative procedure.
The debate focused on updating the Road Traffic Act to address evolving traffic regulations and safety concerns.
The proposed amendments aimed to enhance clarity and enforcement of traffic laws, reflecting the government’s commitment to road safety.
The bill was part of ongoing efforts to modernize Singapore’s transport legislation in line with current needs.

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11 Sep 2012

Public Transport Subsidy for Each Singaporean

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked about the amount of public transport subsidy each Singaporean has received over the past 10 years.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew explained that the Government subsidizes infrastructure costs, such as MRT tunnels and stations, and covers the first set of operating assets, with $17 billion invested from 2002 to 2011.
The Minister also noted that targeted financial aid of over $10 million was provided to low-income Singaporeans in the last five years to help with fare increases.

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