Transport

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about the guidelines for colour coding LRT lines to assist commuters.
• The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, confirmed that different colours have been used since 2017 to distinguish between the East and West Loops of the LRT system.
• Yellow is designated for the East Loops and Red for the West Loops, with these colours displayed on information systems and signs to aid passenger navigation.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about the need for increased bus services along Hougang Avenue 7 due to an influx of new residents.
• The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, stated that Bus Service 112 currently operates at a frequency of about 13 minutes during peak hours, which meets service standards and has manageable passenger loads.
• Residents have access to additional bus services within a short walking distance, connecting them to various locations including Hougang town centre and other neighborhoods.
• The Land Transport Authority will continue to monitor ridership and may adjust bus schedules as necessary, with a new City Direct Service 676 set to launch in January 2025 to enhance connectivity.

• The Ministry of Transport is prioritizing the safety of workers transported on lorries and is actively seeking stakeholder feedback to improve safety measures and consider a potential ban on this practice.
• The government is implementing a multi-pronged approach, including reducing the need for lorry transport by co-locating worker dormitories and encouraging the use of buses instead of lorries.
• While some stakeholders suggest banning lorry transport, the government argues that this is impractical for many small and medium enterprises due to operational challenges and a shortage of bus drivers.
• Recent safety measures include requirements for dual-role drivers, vehicle buddies, and mandatory rain covers for lorries, which took effect on January 1, 2023.
• The government is committed to ongoing collaboration with NGOs and industry associations to enhance worker safety while balancing the operational needs of businesses.

• The debate focused on recent MRT service disruptions in February 2025, with questions raised about the causes and preventive measures by the Ministry of Transport.
• The Minister for Transport provided details on three incidents: a breakdown of an engineering vehicle on the North-South Line, a signalling fault on the North-East Line, and a communication issue on the Circle Line, all of which were found to be unrelated.
• The Minister emphasized ongoing investigations to identify root causes and improve maintenance practices, including the importance of staff morale and operational efficiency.
• Suggestions were made for better communication with commuters during disruptions and the need for improved service recovery measures for stalled engineering vehicles.
• The Minister reiterated the commitment to rail safety, reliability, and resilience, highlighting the achievement of a high mean kilometres between failure target for the MRT network.

• Gerald Giam raised questions about the allocation of peak-hour slots at Changi Airport, specifically the percentage allocated to low-cost carriers (LCCs) versus full-service carriers.
• He inquired about existing policies to ensure a fair distribution of peak-hour slots for LCCs and suggested the introduction of such policies to promote competition and consumer choice.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that as of December 2024, 33% of peak-hour slots were allocated to LCCs, which aligns with their overall share of passenger traffic at Changi Airport.
• The allocation of slots is managed by the Changi Slot Coordinator, which evaluates applications based on airport capacity and the potential contribution of routes to the airport's network.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis inquired about the peak period public transport mode share over the past decade, specifically for MRT/LRT, buses, and taxis/private hire cars.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat responded by referencing data from the Land Transport Authority's Household Travel Survey regarding the peak-period mode share for various public transport options.

• Residents of Yio Chu Kang Beacon have raised concerns about disruptive train noise from nearby MRT tracks.
• Mr. Yip Hon Weng inquired about potential noise mitigation measures, including the installation of noise barriers and reassessment of criteria for such installations.
• The Land Transport Authority (LTA) stated that they are already implementing noise reduction strategies at the source, such as using noise-dampening wheels and improved track materials.
• LTA confirmed that the Yio Chu Kang Beacon area does not meet the criteria for noise barrier installation, as it is over 120 meters from the viaduct and noise levels are within acceptable guidelines.

• Dennis Tan Lip Fong inquired about the status of the investigation into the East-West MRT Line disruption that occurred on 25 September 2024.
• He requested information on when the report and findings from the investigation would be made available to the public.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that the Land Transport Authority's investigations are still ongoing.
• The findings from the investigation will be released to the public once the investigations are concluded.

• Mr. Chua Kheng Wee Louis raised concerns about the single entry point to the Rivervale Shores estate and requested consideration for an additional access road.
• Minister Desmond Lee explained that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) evaluated options for additional access but found them unfeasible due to site constraints.
• The estate is limited by an expressway and a major road, which restricts the possibility of adding another entry point without compromising traffic flow and safety.
• HDB and LTA are monitoring traffic at Rivervale Shores, noting that while traffic is generally smooth, there can be occasional tailbacks during peak hours.
• Residents are asked for understanding during peak times when entering the estate may take a few extra minutes.

• Joan Pereira inquired about increased enforcement at pedestrian hot spots where jaywalking occurs at signalised traffic junctions.
• K Shanmugam confirmed that the Traffic Police has intensified enforcement efforts in 2023, focusing on accident-prone areas and jaywalking hotspots.
• The Traffic Police also prioritizes education on road safety, particularly for elderly pedestrians, and collaborates with the Land Transport Authority to improve road safety through design changes.
• Emphasis was placed on the collective responsibility of all road users to adhere to traffic rules and ensure safety.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned whether the LTA accepts feedback on bus services only from the MyTransport.SG app and not from third-party applications that use LTA's data. Chee Hong Tat clarified that the LTA does accept feedback from all sources, including third-party apps and their data.

Assoc Prof Jamus Lim inquired about the technical limitations of implementing platform screen doors for the LRT system, compared to those installed at MRT stations, focusing on existing trains and platforms. Chee Hong Tat explained that platform screen doors require power, communication, and signal control equipment that cannot be practically accommodated in smaller LRT stations without reducing the waiting area for commuters. For safety, LRT stations have fixed barriers and tactile warning studs, and detection systems using AI and video analytics are in place to monitor track intrusions and alert staff.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about the number of speeding violations recorded by red-light cameras since their speed enforcement function was activated on April 1, 2024. K Shanmugam reported that from April 1 to December 31, 2024, there were 20,919 speeding violations detected by these cameras.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs about accidents involving lorries ferrying passengers between July 2023 and January 2024, seeking information on the number of accidents and associated casualties and deaths. K Shanmugam reported that there were 49 such accidents, resulting in 168 casualties, all of whom were injured but none were seriously hurt or killed. Out of the casualties, 127 were passengers in the rear deck of the lorries.

Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Home Affairs about how driving licence holders can clarify discrepancies in their demerit points status when the Singpass app and Traffic Police platforms show different information and the frequency of updates across government systems. K Shanmugam explained that the Traffic Police sends notification letters after verifying a motorist's identity and updates demerit points daily on the Electronic Driver Data Information and Enquiry System. Licence holders can check their points status on the Singapore Police Force's e-Services portal, which is the authoritative source. The Singpass app draws data from MyInfo monthly and currently has a known issue displaying incorrect demerit points for those with 24 or more points, which is expected to be fixed by early February 2025.

Gerald Giam Yean Song raised concerns regarding incidents of passengers being left on aerobridges or locked out of arrival gates at Changi Airport over the past five years, asking for statistics and regulatory measures in place. Chee Hong Tat confirmed that a recent incident on December 29, 2024, was the first of its kind at Changi, involving three passengers mistakenly left on the aerobridge due to miscommunication between the airline crew and ground handling agents (GHAs). The handling agents failed to conduct a thorough check before locking the door, leading to a delay in unlocking it for about 16 minutes. The airline has since apologized to the passengers and worked on improving coordination with the GHA, while relevant authorities have shared insights from the incident to prevent future occurrences.

Tan Wu Meng asked if the Ministry of Transport has studied or plans to study the use of artificial intelligence analytics to improve detection and auditing of near-miss accidents at traffic junctions for better road design. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Land Transport Authority uses data analytics and AI to enhance road safety at the junction of Jalan Lempeng and Faber Drive.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the prerequisites and intended start date for a future slip road from the Tampines Expressway to Rivervale Shores, and whether construction can begin after the HDB estate's completion in 2024. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has conducted road improvement works to manage expected traffic increases from the new development, and while the slip road is planned for future implementation, a specific date has not yet been determined. Traffic conditions in the area have been observed to be manageable with the improvements made.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs about advancing the deadline for lighter lorries to install speed limiters and prioritizing those used to transport workers. K Shanmugam referred him to a written response from a previous parliament sitting regarding the first question. He also stated that the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority do not monitor which lorries are specifically used for transporting workers.

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if the Government could enhance bus connectivity in industrial estates or subsidize local business associations for loop services during peak times. Chee Hong Tat responded that 30 public bus services currently connect industrial estates to major transport nodes, but due to low travel demand outside peak periods, these services are costly to maintain. The Land Transport Authority encourages companies to explore alternative transport options tailored to their specific needs and employee travel patterns.