Transport — Topics

3 Jul 2023

Feedback Received from Residents on Loud Noise from Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles

Residents have submitted between 85 and 190 feedback cases annually over the past three years regarding loud noise from vehicles and motorcycles, with enforcement actions taken against dozens of vehicles each year for failing noise standards and against over a thousand cases of illegal exhaust modifications annually.
New vehicles must comply with noise emission standards upon registration, and existing vehicles must meet in-use standards to ensure proper maintenance and minimize excessive noise.
To further reduce vehicle noise, tightened noise standards for new motorcycles, passenger cars, and aftermarket exhaust systems took effect on 1 April 2023, with similar standards for new commercial vehicles to be implemented on 1 April 2024.

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3 Jul 2023

Misuse of Personal Mobility Devices for Food Delivery Service

Murali Pillai asked whether there has been upstream engagement with food delivery platforms to address able-bodied riders misusing personal mobility aids meant for the elderly and handicapped, and what measures exist to discourage such misuse.
S Iswaran stated that the Land Transport Authority enforces rules to ensure safe use of personal mobility aids, including prohibiting road use and imposing a 10 km/h speed limit on public paths.
He added that the Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing regulations for personal mobility aids and has engaged stakeholders, including food delivery platforms, to complete the review by year-end.

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10 May 2023

Replacement of Diesel Powered Harbour Crafts with Electric Ferries

Sharael Taha inquired if the Ministry of Transport is exploring more opportunities to replace diesel-powered harbour crafts and ferries with electric ferries and whether a conversion target has been set.
S Iswaran responded that the Ministry announced during the March 2023 COS Debate plans for harbour craft in port waters to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
He directed further details to the MOT COS 2023 webpage for more information on the plans.

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10 May 2023

Effect of New Public Transport Fare Adjustment Formula on Commuters' Transport Cost

The new public transport fare adjustment formula announced by the Public Transport Council on 25 April 2023 will impact commuters' transportation costs.
Minister S Iswaran indicated that the matter was previously addressed in a reply to Question No 9 for Oral Answer on 9 May 2023.
The earlier reply specifically referred to ridership demand considerations within the new fare adjustment formula.

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10 May 2023

Open Market Value of Cars Registered under Categories A and B COEs

Leong Mun Wai requested detailed open market value percentiles for cars registered under Categories A and B COEs from 2010 onward.
S Iswaran responded that the government does not track data to such a level of detail.
He noted that Category B median OMV has been about 75% higher than Category A in recent years, citing Q1 2023 figures.
Specific figures provided include a Category A median OMV of $25,525 and a Category B median OMV of $44,866 for Q1 2023.
The Minister referenced an earlier ministerial statement for additional context but did not supply the requested percentile data.

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10 May 2023

Prevalence of Cycling to Work and Proposal for Installing Cycling Lanes on Routes to Central Business District

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether the government monitors the number of people cycling to work and if studies have been done on cycling routes to the Central Business District to plan for cycling lanes.
The Land Transport Authority conducts travel surveys indicating that less than 2% of commuters primarily cycle to work and has recently completed six kilometres of cycling paths in the Central Area with more planned in regional centres.
The government is exploring longer-distance cycling routes like the North-South Corridor and will consider connectivity, community feedback, and site conditions in future cycling path planning.

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10 May 2023

Campaign to Remind Pedestrians not to Use Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices While on the Roads

Lim Biow Chuan asked if the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would launch a continuous nationwide campaign to discourage pedestrians from using mobile phones or electronic devices on roads.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that LTA, Traffic Police, and the Singapore Road Safety Council already run extensive education programs, including campaigns like the Move Happy Campaign and events targeting seniors, to promote pedestrian alertness.
Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns about the adequacy of current road safety education, citing recent court cases and driver feedback about distracted pedestrians increasing accident risks.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary agreed that more can be done, emphasizing a holistic approach that combines public education, road design improvements like Silver Zones, and shared responsibility among all road users.
Both sides stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance safety culture and reduce accidents through coordinated actions between agencies and the public.

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10 May 2023

Supplementing LRT Train Journeys During Peak Times with Increased Frequency in Bus Services

The Ministry is supplementing Punggol's busy LRT system with more frequent bus services during peak times, including additional bus trips and double-deck buses, while closely monitoring the situation.
To increase capacity, LTA will replace one-car LRT trains with two-car trains on both Punggol and Sengkang LRT systems starting next year, and extend the North East Line to Punggol Coast MRT station.
Commuters are encouraged to use transport apps for journey planning to ensure smooth transitions between LRT and bus services, with feedback from residents being actively considered for improvements.
The measures aim to address peak-hour crowding and improve convenience and safety for all passengers, especially school children, as noted in feedback from Punggol residents.

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10 May 2023

Number of Fatalities and Injuries from Falls onto LRT Tracks

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked about the number of fatalities and injuries from falls onto LRT tracks in the past 10 years, and the Minister for Transport replied that there were two fatalities and one injury.
Ms Yeo raised concerns about safety at Punggol LRT stations, noting the installation of glass panels since 2018 but the absence of automatic doors due to space and technical constraints, and requested updates on technical breakthroughs or additional safety measures.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed that safety is a priority, with fixed barriers, tactile warnings, emergency equipment, and increased signage already in place, but platform screen doors are not currently feasible due to space limitations.
The Ministry is exploring new technologies for platform screen doors and is considering video analytics for early alerts if a commuter intrudes onto the tracks.

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9 May 2023

Data on Fully Electric Public Hire Vehicles and Taxis and Plans to Raise Percentage

As of March 2023, there were over 400 fully electric taxis and over 700 fully electric chauffeured private hire cars, representing about 2.9% and 1.5% of their respective fleets, while about 700 fully electric self-drive private hire cars accounted for 2.7% of that segment.
Taxi operators have committed to having at least half of their taxis be electric by 2030.
Grab has committed to 50% of its GrabRentals fleet being electric by 2030.
These targets are aligned with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and remain unchanged, with the Land Transport Authority working to facilitate electric vehicle adoption.

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9 May 2023

Households Collecting Public Transport Vouchers by Registration or Appeal

As of 31 March 2023, about 264,000 of the 600,000 available Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) worth $30 each have been distributed, including 240,000 automatically sent to households continuing to meet eligibility criteria from the previous exercise.
The Ministry of Transport and People's Association ensure that no needy household is denied a PTV; households exceeding income criteria but with special circumstances can appeal online or at Community Centres/Clubs until 31 October 2023.
The government has announced the availability of PTVs with outreach through posters in buses and transport nodes, urging eligible households to apply by the October 2023 deadline.
The Ministry has not directly addressed whether it will consider disbursing PTVs of less than $30 to applicants with household income per person above $1,600 but below $2,000, but maintains flexibility through the appeal process for special circumstances.

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9 May 2023

Data on Cyclists Taking up Third-party Liability Insurance

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether LTA tracks cyclists taking up third-party liability insurance since AMAP's 2021 recommendation and what steps are being taken to encourage its uptake.
Minister S Iswaran replied that LTA does not track such insurance take-up but mandates businesses to ensure their riders have coverage while providing educational materials to all riders.
He noted that education and enforcement efforts have contributed to a decrease in accidents involving active mobility devices from 162 in 2020 to 101 in 2022.

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9 May 2023

Dedicated Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles in HDB Multi-storey Car Parks vs Radio Frequency Identification-controlled Power Points

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked why dedicated charging stations were chosen over alternatives like RFID-controlled power points and if they are the most cost-beneficial solution.
The Minister explained that dedicated charging stations are fixed chargers with lower safety risks and faster charging speeds compared to non-fixed alternatives, which are limited to lower power under Singapore's Technical Reference 25 standards.
The Minister noted that fixed chargers are the global standard for public charging networks and that Singapore will continue to monitor and facilitate safe advancements in charging technology.

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9 May 2023

Plans to Raise Awareness Among Cyclists on Highway Code and Guideline for On-road Cycling Groups

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about plans to raise cyclist awareness of traffic rules and guidelines for on-road cycling groups.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that cyclists must follow the Road Traffic Act, with penalties for unsafe riding, and noted stricter cycling rules introduced in January 2022.
The Traffic Police conduct outreach, such as partnering the Singapore Cycling Federation, and carry out enforcement with the Land Transport Authority.
The government will monitor the situation and increase outreach or enforcement as needed.

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9 May 2023

Potential Third Land Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about developments on a potential third land link between Singapore and Johor Bahru.
Vivian Balakrishnan stated there are no developments on the potential third land link.
The completion of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link project is the top priority.
No current plans or progress have been made on establishing a third land connection.
The government is focusing efforts on the existing transit system link instead.

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9 May 2023

Result of Probe into 16 April 2023 Accident at Upper Thomson Road Involving Two Groups of Cyclists

Dennis Tan asked about measures to enhance cyclists' safety after an accident involving two groups, focusing on enforcing rules for group cycling and sufficient space when overtaking.
K Shanmugam stated that all road users, including cyclists, must use roads safely under the Road Traffic Act, with penalties for unsafe cycling ranging from fines and imprisonment to harsher punishments for injury-causing incidents.
Stricter on-road cycling rules were introduced in January 2022, including limits on group sizes and cycling abreast, with increased composition sums, and outreach efforts have been conducted to educate cyclists.
The Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority carry out enforcement operations against errant cyclists and will monitor the situation to increase outreach or enforcement as needed.

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9 May 2023

Quality of Thomson-East Coast Line's Rolling Stock and Signalling System

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport about LTA's assessment of the Thomson-East Coast Line's rolling stock and signalling quality and whether any significant faults were detected without causing service disruptions.
Minister S Iswaran stated that the Thomson-East Coast Line's systems have performed on par with other mass rapid transit lines during their initial revenue service phase.
Specific faults such as minor glitches in train-borne software and pressure sensor issues on a single train were identified but resolved without significant service disruptions.
The Land Transport Authority will continue collaborating with contractors and operators to address and prevent such teething issues.

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9 May 2023

Enhanced Preventive Measures Undertaken in Response to Recent Spike in Breakdowns on North-South and East-West Lines

The Minister acknowledged five service disruptions on the North-South and East-West Lines from January to April 2023, each lasting more than five minutes, with investigations showing they were unrelated incidents.
SMRT has introduced additional precautionary checks on similar sub-systems and increased pre-emptive replacement of key components to prevent recurrence, all aligned with existing Maintenance Performance Standards under the rail licence.
The Ministry confirmed that enhanced preventive measures are already incorporated into the licence framework, ensuring continuous improvement and accountability for rail service reliability.

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9 May 2023

Measures to Mitigate Risks of Data Compromise via Public Charging Stations and Wifi Access Points

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked if there were any recorded attempts to breach public charging stations or Wi-Fi at transport nodes, what security measures are in place, and whether public education like billboards will be implemented.
The Minister for Transport confirmed no reported breaches at transport nodes, noting Wi-Fi uses encrypted Wireless@SGx standards and charging stations only transmit power with data pins removed, supported by inspections and CCTV.
The Minister added that signs at charging stations remind users to practice cyber hygiene and referred to a joint advisory on protecting devices from malicious connections.
In a supplementary question, Mr Yip asked how often charging stations are inspected for tampering, and the Minister replied that public transport operators conduct daily inspections as part of their regular facility checks.

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9 May 2023

Ridership Demand Considerations in New Fare Adjustment Formula

The new fare adjustment formula replaces the Network Capacity Factor with a fixed Capacity Adjustment Factor (C) at 1.1% for five years to reduce volatility, focusing on planned capacity growth from new MRT lines while excluding ridership due to uncertain recovery patterns.
The government emphasizes affordability through broad subsidies, concession fares for vulnerable groups, and Public Transport Vouchers, while acknowledging plans to enhance awareness of monthly passes and support schemes.
MPs raised concerns about future transport subsidies and eligibility for assistance, prompting the minister to outline ongoing efforts to improve targeted support and frontline service training at transport nodes.

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