Transport

Gho Sze Kee raised concerns about the 25 km/h speed limit for bicycles on shared paths, suggesting it may be unsafe for vulnerable pedestrians such as the elderly and children. Baey Yam Keng defended the current speed limit, stating it was determined through consultations and is appropriate for shared paths, which are designed to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians. Dennis Tan Lip Fong expressed agreement with Gho's concerns and highlighted the need for better public education and enforcement to promote safe riding culture. Baey acknowledged the ongoing public education efforts since 2016 and reiterated that the speed limit is the maximum, and cyclists should be responsible for slowing down in crowded conditions. Overall, Baey emphasized the importance of a shared understanding and adherence to the rules for safe coexistence on paths.

Denise Phua Lay Peng asked about the accessibility features for autonomous shuttle services to cater to users with various needs, such as wheelchair users, non-English speakers, families with strollers, and individuals with disabilities. Sun Xueling responded that during the pilot phase, a safety operator and ground ambassadors will assist passengers, and larger vehicles will accommodate folded wheelchairs and strollers, with plans for more inclusive vehicles in the future. Phua emphasized the importance of adopting a universal design approach from the outset to better serve all users, rather than making accommodations as an afterthought. Sun Xueling agreed to consider this principle moving forward and pledged to share the feedback with AV shuttle manufacturers to incorporate accessible design features from the beginning. Additionally, she noted that universal design will be prioritized in ground infrastructure as the AV shuttle program scales up.

Yeo Wan Ling and Ang Wei Neng raised concerns about safeguarding the livelihoods of Singaporean taxi and private hire drivers in light of potential increases in cross-border taxi services from Malaysia. Sun Xueling addressed the ongoing illegal point-to-point (P2P) services and outlined the Land Transport Authority’s enforcement efforts against such activities while exploring enhancements to the Cross Border Taxi Scheme for greater convenience. The Ministry of Transport is considering using technology to ensure fair competition and to track cross-border vehicles effectively, and they aim to consult with industry associations to establish reasonable fare structures. There are plans for more designated drop-off points on both sides, but measures will be implemented to prevent illegal services and fare undercutting between licensed vehicles. Additionally, the Ministry is exploring ways to crack down on illegal services offered through apps and chat groups.

• Mr. Ng Shi Xuan inquired about the number of private heavy vehicle parking lots that do not allow public access to information on parking space availability and the number of heavy vehicles registered to those lots.
• Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow responded that approximately 90% of private heavy vehicle parking lots, around 27,000, do not permit public inquiries regarding lot availability.
• HVP licence holders have the discretion to manage parking lot allocations and may not necessarily own the heavy vehicles themselves.

• Ms. Joan Pereira inquired about the progress of installing Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows at traffic junctions and the potential elimination of discretionary right turns.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is nearing completion of the installation of 200 additional RAG arrows, aiming for a total of approximately 1,400 by the end of 2025.
• Most remaining junctions without RAG arrows have single right-turn lanes and will be reviewed for RAG arrow installation during future road developments.

• The construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5) is scheduled for completion in the mid-2030s, with groundbreaking having occurred in May 2025.
• Contracts for initial construction phases, including tunnels and substructure works, were awarded in the first half of 2025.
• Future tenders for above-ground construction and the ground transportation center will be awarded in the coming years.
• T5 will feature an underground automated people mover and baggage handling system to connect it to Terminal 2, ensuring seamless transfers.

• Approximately 77,000 foreign-registered vehicles enter Singapore daily, with 82% being motorcycles, representing about 8% of the local vehicle population.
• Foreign-registered vehicles must obtain a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) or an ASEAN Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP), which are tied to road tax and insurance.
• Plans are in place to enhance the transport network, including the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which will streamline travel and immigration processes for commuters.
• The RTS Link will connect directly to the Woodlands North MRT station, improving access to the public transport network.

• Dr. Choo Pei Ling inquired about measures to enhance worker transport safety in light of vehicle-related workplace deaths.
• Minister Tan See Leng highlighted that work-related vehicular incidents include both public road accidents and workplace accidents involving vehicles.
• Employers are mandated by the Workplace Safety and Health Act to ensure vehicle safety, with guidelines provided by the WSH Council for traffic management and vehicle operation.
• The Ministry of Manpower promotes the use of technology, such as cameras and sensors, to prevent vehicular incidents and offers funding support for SMEs to adopt these solutions.
• The Ministry of Transport is also involved in improving worker transportation safety through strategies that reduce the need for transport and promote safer alternatives.

• Ms. Yeo Wan Ling raised concerns about the potential increase in abandoned vapes in transport areas and suggested extending vape disposal bins to non-restricted areas.
• Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that reports of abandoned e-vaporisers have not increased and emphasized the importance of designated disposal locations.
• The government encourages proper disposal of e-vaporisers at specific sites and has trained around 1,000 public transport staff for enforcement related to vaping.

• Mr. Foo Cexiang raised concerns about the absence of a night blindness test in the visual requirements for obtaining a driving licence and suggested its implementation for road safety.
• Minister K Shanmugam confirmed that there is currently no specific test for night blindness, but applicants must declare any conditions that could impair their driving.
• If an applicant declares a condition like night blindness, they must undergo a medical test to prove their fitness to drive before being granted a licence.
• The Minister stated that the existing visual requirements for driving licences are deemed adequate for ensuring public safety.

• The Ministry of Trade and Industry engages with business owners to assess the impact of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix and has implemented support measures for those affected.
• Government agencies, including the Singapore Tourism Board and the Land Transport Authority, actively seek feedback from businesses in the Marina Bay area to mitigate disruptions caused by the event.
• Measures to reduce disruptions include improved access and wayfinding, as well as a reduction in road closure periods from 12 days in 2008 to 7 days currently.
• The F1 Singapore Grand Prix has attracted over 720,000 international visitors and generated more than $2.2 billion in tourism receipts since its inception in 2008.
• The Grand Prix Season Singapore initiative encourages businesses to leverage the increased footfall and spending during the event through race-themed festivities.

• Gerald Giam raised concerns about the MRT network's reliability, noting it has fallen to its lowest level since 2020 and questioned the effectiveness of the maintenance regime for aging lines.
• Jeffrey Siow referred to a previous oral response addressing the issues of MRT and LRT breakdowns, including causes and measures for improving rail reliability.
• The debate highlights ongoing concerns regarding the maintenance and reliability of Singapore's MRT system.

• The debate focused on the necessity of mass evacuation of train passengers onto tracks during emergencies and the methods to reduce such occurrences.
• Cai Yinzhou inquired about manual recovery methods and plans to enhance safety for commuters with mobility aids during evacuations.
• Jeffrey Siow explained that evacuation is a last resort, with protocols in place to ensure safety, especially for those with mobility challenges, and highlighted the role of trained officers and the Civil Defence Force in such situations.
• Newer trains are equipped with batteries to reach stations without traction power, and a Rail Reliability Taskforce has been established to improve incident response and reduce evacuation instances.

• Gerald Giam raised concerns about the regulations governing rail operators when they deviate from maintenance schedules recommended by train manufacturers.
• He questioned whether the Ministry of Transport would review SMRT's waiver approval system following a report indicating that waivers may be granted without proper justification.
• Jeffrey Siow referenced a previous written reply that addressed the regulatory oversight of rail operators' safety decisions, indicating that the issue has been previously discussed in Parliament.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired about the timeline and scope of the review of the fixed-drop-off point scheme for licensed cross-border point-to-point services between Singapore and Johor Bahru, as well as discussions with Malaysia regarding expanding approved drop-off and pick-up locations.
• Jeffrey Siow indicated that the question had been addressed in a written reply during a previous parliamentary session on 23 September 2025.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about actions taken against senior management and technical personnel following the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau's report on the September 2024 train incident.
• Jeffrey Siow clarified that the TSIB's investigations focus on preventing future incidents rather than assigning blame, and no criminal wrongdoing was found.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) imposed a $2.4 million penalty on SMRT for breaching its license and directed the company to invest $600,000 to enhance its capabilities.
• The LTA does not intervene in the human resource decisions of rail operators based on investigation findings.

• Mr. Xie Yao Quan questioned the Ministry of Transport about the possibility of linking rail operators' key executives' pay to rail performance.
• Jeffrey Siow responded that the government holds rail operators accountable for service standards and penalizes them for disruptions.
• He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the rail operators' boards and management to set remuneration that incentivizes performance.

• Dr. Charlene Chen raised concerns about the effectiveness of safety campaigns for delivery riders and called for data sharing from platforms to identify risky behaviors.
• The Traffic Police currently do not track delivery rider accidents but recognize the need to understand their road habits better.
• There is a possibility of engaging platform companies for data to inform future safety interventions and campaigns.
• Investigations and enforcement actions are taken by the Traffic Police and Ministry of Manpower when accidents occur, applying existing laws to all road users.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim proposed the idea of a differentiated discount rate for travel during peak and off-peak periods for the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) concession scheme.
• Jeffrey Siow highlighted that persons with disabilities currently receive up to 55% off adult per-journey fares and can save an additional 50 cents on MRT fares if they travel before 7.45 am on weekdays.
• He also mentioned that PWDs can purchase monthly concession passes for $58, allowing unlimited travel on train and basic bus services.

• The debate focused on the progress of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure installation in public spaces and HDB car parks in Singapore.
• Christopher de Souza raised questions about the current status and future plans for accelerating the roll-out of EV chargers in response to increasing EV adoption.
• Jeffrey Siow reported that there are over 25,000 EV charging points nationwide, with a target of 60,000 by 2030, and more than 7,500 chargers installed in HDB car parks.
• The government aims to ensure every HDB resident has convenient access to an EV charger by the end of the year, while monitoring charger usage and adapting to new technologies.
• The Land Transport Authority is committed to scaling up the deployment of chargers in areas with high demand, considering electrical capacity.