Transport

Edward Chia Bing Hui asked if the Ministry of Transport would align the eligibility criteria for Public Transport Vouchers with the Community Health Assist Scheme for better clarity for residents. Jeffrey Siow confirmed that the Government is reviewing the PTV eligibility criteria and will consider the suggestion.

Yeo Wan Ling asked the Acting Minister for Transport about instances of damage caused by Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) on public transport and how ministry support will be provided to transport workers regarding this issue. Jeffrey Siow reported no cases of deliberate damage from PMA users, but noted occasional accidental damage. He stated that transport workers are authorized to refuse entry to overly large PMAs and can involve police for uncooperative passengers. The Land Transport Authority plans to align PMA size regulations between public paths and transport, along with increased public education efforts for new rules set to take effect in 2026.

• Ms. He Ting Ru inquired about the total passenger load and cost assessment of the free Marine Parade shuttle bus service since its launch.
• The shuttle bus service was initiated as a pilot project to address last-mile connectivity needs in the Marine Parade area.
• Usage of the service varied significantly by route, location, and time, indicating differing demand across the community.
• The initial estimated cost of the pilot program remains at $1 million, primarily funded through donations and a $200,000 grant from the South East Community Development Council.

• Ms. Hazlina Abdul Halim raised concerns about rising COE prices and proposed government grants to help families with special needs afford vehicle access.
• She also inquired about support for car-sharing platforms and leasing services to provide flexible options for these families.
• Jeffrey Siow responded that the government prefers direct subsidies for specific needs rather than complicating the COE system, citing existing support like the Enabling Transport Subsidy.
• The government is focusing on enhancing public transport and expanding point-to-point transport options for those needing occasional car access.

• There has been a significant increase in fires involving Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) in early 2025, prompting calls for a review of the penalty framework for non-compliant devices.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) actively enforces regulations against the sale and use of non-compliant Active Mobility Devices (AMDs) and conducts regular operations to seize such devices.
• The Ministry of Transport and LTA are considering tougher enforcement measures, including potential legislative amendments to strengthen regulations on the online sale of non-compliant devices, with plans to implement these changes next year.

• Ms. Hazlina Abdul Halim raised a question about extending concession pass price reductions to include students and full-time national servicemen in light of the upcoming transport fare increase in December 2025.
• The Acting Minister for Transport, Jeffrey Siow, explained that the Public Transport Council (PTC) assesses fare adjustments and determines how different commuter groups share the fare increase burden.
• Siow noted that monthly pass prices for students and full-time national servicemen were already reduced by up to 10% in 2023, with pre-university students enjoying the lowest rates among all monthly passes.

• The debate focused on the long-term sustainability of over $2 billion in annual public transport subsidies and their impact on fare-setting autonomy and transparency.
• Jackson Lam questioned the Ministry of Transport about the implications of relying on these subsidies for future fare adjustments and the safeguards in place for subsidy allocation.
• Jeffrey Siow explained that the Public Transport Council (PTC) uses a fare adjustment formula to determine fare increases, which considers various economic factors and allows for independent decision-making.
• For the current year, the PTC approved a 5% fare increase, deferring a larger allowable increase, with the government providing an additional $200 million in subsidies to cover the shortfall.
• The subsidies are essential for maintaining reliable public transport services and managing the costs of asset renewal while keeping fares affordable for users.

• Shawn Loh raised concerns about the accessibility of pedestrian overhead bridges for seniors, suggesting the installation of lifts to prevent isolation.
• The Acting Minister for Transport confirmed that lifts will be installed at four specific pedestrian overhead bridges connecting Whampoa to nearby towns.
• The installation of lifts is prioritized over bridges that already have ramps, with upgrades already completed on one bridge and site studies initiated for others.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about the total number of car-owning households in HDB versus non-HDB categories as of 2025, specifically for those with at least one, two, or three cars.
• Jeffrey Siow provided a breakdown of household car ownership by property type, referencing a table for detailed information.

• Ms. Gho Sze Kee raised concerns about the adequacy of public transport arrangements for major events, emphasizing the need for better coordination and late-night services for attendees.
• She specifically mentioned events like the Singapore Grand Prix concerts and other large-scale performances.
• Jeffrey Siow responded that the Land Transport Authority collaborates with event organizers to extend public transport service hours as necessary.
• He noted that it is the responsibility of event organizers to follow the agreed plans for managing crowd dispersal to transport nodes.

• Mr. Low Wu Yang Andre inquired about the proportion of commuters boarding the North-East Line from Punggol Coast to Kovan during weekday morning peak hours and their destinations.
• The Acting Minister for Transport, Jeffrey Siow, responded that approximately one-third of these commuters alight within the Central Area.

• There is a call for stronger regulatory measures to ensure private food delivery companies are accountable for the safety and traffic compliance of their delivery personnel.
• Proposed measures include mandatory training on traffic rules, wearing reflective attire, and using lights on vehicles at night, along with penalties for repeated safety breaches.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Traffic Police (TP) have existing measures to promote safe behavior among all road users, including delivery riders.
• Delivery platforms are responsible for the safety of their riders, including ensuring they have adequate insurance coverage while working.
• LTA and TP engage with food delivery platforms and industry partners to promote safe riding practices through campaigns and training initiatives.

• Mr. Fadli Fawzi raised concerns about the lack of alternative shuttle bus services after 11 pm for commuters affected by the early closure of the Circle Line on certain weekends.
• He inquired about the possibility of introducing such shuttle bus services and the reasons for their absence if they cannot be implemented.
• Jeffrey Siow explained that the early closure is necessary for testing related to the opening of Circle Line Stage 6 and that shuttle buses are not provided when the number of affected commuters is small and alternative routes are available.

• Mr. Gabriel Lam raised concerns about the need to review vehicle licence classifications for electric vehicles, particularly regarding the higher unladen weight of electric trucks due to battery mass.
• He inquired whether electric vehicles weighing up to 3,000kg could be driven with a Class 3 licence instead of a Class 4 licence.
• Minister K Shanmugam confirmed that the Traffic Police is currently reviewing the classifications and will provide details soon.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired about research on the effectiveness of covert versus overt cameras in reducing speeding offences in Singapore.
• K Shanmugam responded that overt and covert cameras have distinct roles, with overt cameras providing specific deterrence and covert cameras promoting general deterrence.
• The Minister indicated that the two types of cameras are not interchangeable, suggesting that comparative research may not yield useful insights.

• Ms. Valerie Lee raised concerns about the accessibility of SCDF ambulances to private condominiums, particularly regarding height restrictions in carparks.
• K Shanmugam responded that SCDF ambulances need a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres, while many private carparks only provide 2.2 metres.
• In cases of restricted access, ambulance crews coordinate with condominium management to find alternative routes to reach patients.
• The SCDF and Building and Construction Authority issued a joint advisory in March 2024 to improve ambulance access, recommending a minimum clearance height of 3.0 metres for new buildings.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the calculation and source of a $200 million subsidy for 2026 to cover a deferred 9.4% increase in public transport fares.
• The subsidy amount is based on estimated public transport revenue for 2026 and the deferred fare adjustment.
• The funding for the subsidy will be sourced from the Consolidated Fund.

• The Marine Parade shuttle bus trial was launched to improve last-mile connectivity based on resident feedback, funded primarily by donations and a seed grant.
• The trial revealed varying usage patterns across different routes and times, leading to adjustments in bus frequencies and the early discontinuation of one route.
• The Grassroots Organisations (GROs) will continue to use a pilot-and-review approach to better allocate resources for community transport needs.
• The decision to terminate the shuttle bus was made after analyzing operational data and feedback, with plans for more targeted resource deployment to enhance connectivity in Marine Parade.

• Mr. Foo Cexiang raised concerns about car dealers potentially inflating COE premiums while keeping vehicle prices stable and suggested that only prospective buyers should be allowed to bid for COEs.
• Jeffrey Siow responded that vehicle prices have generally increased alongside COE premiums, but not at the same rate, and attributed this to various factors including government subsidies and market values.
• Siow clarified that buyers can bid for their own COEs and there is no evidence that dealers are artificially inflating COE prices beyond buyer willingness.
• Some buyers prefer to have dealers bid on their behalf for convenience, indicating a mixed preference in the bidding process.

• Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised concerns about managing usage and reducing hogging at public car parks with limited EV charging stations, as well as the need for a cost review of public EV charging rates compared to home electricity tariffs.
• Jeffrey Siow responded that charger utilization rates are monitored, and efforts will be made to increase deployment in response to demand, while idle fees have been implemented by operators to deter lot hogging.
• Charging prices are set by operators based on factors such as demand, location, and charger power rating.