Transport — Topics

4 Mar 2021

Pilot Programme for SMRT Taxis to be Equipped with Booster Seats for Young Children

A six-month pilot programme by SMRT Taxis to equip its fleet with booster seats for young children was extended due to the circuit breaker, with about 1,750 taxis equipped, but the utilisation rate was low as there were few requests from commuters.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that making booster seats compulsory for taxis is not feasible due to operational constraints like boot size, the need for quick street hails, and potential higher costs for families, while private hire cars are required to have them as they are pre-booked.
Louis Ng Kok Kwang expressed concern that the focus on utilisation rate overlooks safety, noting the effectiveness of child car seats in reducing injuries, and questioned the practicality argument, arguing that modern booster seats are compact and that street hails are less common today.
The government will continue to monitor the situation and consult stakeholders, considering options like focusing on ride-hail journeys, while balancing safety with livelihood concerns for taxi drivers.

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3 Mar 2021

Installation of traffic Lights or Lifts to Pedestrian Overhead Bridges in Sengkang West

Gan Thiam Poh asked about installing traffic lights or lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges in Sengkang West to improve safety and convenience for seniors and young families.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the area already has 10 traffic light crossings and six pedestrian overhead bridges, with barrier-free access at most crossings and one bridge.
He explained that residents needing barrier-free options typically have reasonable access to such facilities within walking distance.
The government will prioritize lifts at bridges benefiting large numbers of seniors and commuters with mobility challenges, especially near transport hubs and healthcare institutions.
The response emphasized a targeted approach rather than blanket installation, focusing on locations with fewer alternatives and higher demand.

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3 Mar 2021

Increase in Issuance of Heavy Vehicle Season Parking Tickets

Edward Chia asked if there are plans to increase URA season parking tickets for heavy vehicles, especially in high-demand towns where new applicants face waitlists.
Desmond Lee stated that all heavy vehicles must have designated overnight parking before registration, with more parking lots (41,200) than heavy vehicles (32,800).
Residents have raised noise and safety concerns about heavy vehicle parking near homes, and land is prioritized for housing and community needs.
The government is increasing heavy vehicle parking lots in industrial areas, not residential estates, and advises those on waitlists to use current lots or explore alternatives via OneMotoring.

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3 Mar 2021

Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

MPs urged the government to set more ambitious climate goals, including a net-zero by 2050 pledge, and questioned the trade-offs and economic impacts of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, such as land use for solar energy and the carbon tax's effect on competitiveness.
Multiple speakers raised concerns about the energy grid's readiness for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the need for more charging infrastructure, and the challenges of making EVs affordable and practical for consumers and fleets.
The debate emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach, calling for stronger public-private-people partnerships, better environmental education in schools, and more ground-up initiatives to support the green transition.

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1 Mar 2021

Prioritisation Criteria for Planned Lift Installation for Pedestrian Overhead Bridges Across Different Towns in Singapore

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Transport about the distribution of planned lift installations for pedestrian overhead bridges across different towns and whether prioritisation criteria should consider the relative proportion of seniors in a town, not just absolute numbers, to avoid disadvantaging elderly in younger towns.
He also specifically queried whether the overhead bridge near Block 327A Anchorvale Road could be retrofitted with a lift to benefit seniors and if it would be prioritised in future retrofitting within Anchorvale.
Ong Ye Kung responded that prioritisation is guided by the number of seniors and commuters with mobility challenges who will benefit, and how well the bridge connects them to public transport and healthcare, rather than the proportion of seniors in a town.
He noted that lifts have been provided at bridges near Sengkang General and Community Hospital to serve seniors and patients, and the bridge at Block 333D is being fitted with lifts, with LTA periodically reviewing its programme.

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1 Mar 2021

Rules Governing Use of Recumbent Bikes and Trikes on Roads, Park Connectors and Footpaths

Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Transport about the current rules for using recumbent bikes and trikes on roads, park connectors, and footpaths, and whether LTA will consider specific regulations for these vehicles due to their lower profile.
Ong Ye Kung responded that LTA has received requests from owners to use these devices on public paths and roads, and they are currently permitted only on footpaths and cycling paths/park connectors if they meet safety requirements.
LTA is reviewing the requests, prioritizing the safety of riders and other road users as the overriding consideration.

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1 Mar 2021

Review Policies and Health Data on Children Injured in Motor Accidents and Child Car Seats in Taxis

Louis Ng asked if public hospitals collect health data on children injured in motor accidents due to not being secured in child car seats and how such data would inform policy reviews for child car seats in taxis.
Gan Kim Yong stated that while public hospitals report some data on child injuries in motor accidents, there is limited information on whether child car seats or seatbelts were used, and the data does not directly link injuries to the non-use of restraints.
The government acknowledges that international evidence supports the use of child restraints for safety but exempts taxis from requiring child car seats due to practical challenges, while private hire cars allow pre-booking of child seats.

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1 Mar 2021

Capping Engine Capacity or Engine Power for Vehicles Driven by New Drivers

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the government would consider restricting engine capacity or power for vehicles driven by new drivers.
The Minister explained that existing rules already impose engine limits for motorcycles based on experience, but no such limits apply to Class 3 car licenses due to a lack of evidence linking engine capacity to accidents.
He noted that primary causes of accidents are factors like negligence and intoxication, not engine power, and highlighted a decline in road fatalities over the past decade.
The Ministry concluded there is no need for new engine caps within Class 3, though it will continue exploring other road safety measures.

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1 Mar 2021

Review of New Rail Financing Framework to Ensure Financial Sustainability of Rail Network

The debate was initiated by Chua Kheng Wee Louis, who inquired whether a review of the New Rail Financing Framework is underway, the considerations for ensuring financial sustainability, and the expected completion timeline amid operator losses.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the question, along with related public transport finance matters, will be addressed during the Ministry of Transport's Committee of Supply debate in early March.

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1 Mar 2021

Fare Revenues and Profitability of Thomson-East Coast Line Rail Operator

The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) operates under a gross cost model where the government collects fare revenue and pays a service fee to the operator, SMRT TEL.
For the financial year ending 31 March 2020, TEL fare revenue was about $0.2 million, while the service fee paid to the operator was about $23 million, resulting in an operating loss of $0.13 million for the operator.
The government accepts this initial loss as expected, given that TEL is opening in phases and ridership needs time to build up, which allows for resolving teething issues and ensuring reliability.

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1 Mar 2021

Moving Work Site A1W1 for Cross Island Line Further into Singapore Island Country Club

The Ministry for Transport, through the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has engaged nature groups and an engineering consultant to reduce the impact of the Cross Island Line's worksite A1W1 on the Raffles Banded Langurs.
The worksite has been optimised, cutting its footprint by over half and moving it about 150 metres from the langurs' habitat—much farther than the original 30 metres—with agreement from the Singapore Island Country Club.
LTA will continue collaborating with nature groups to mitigate environmental impacts during construction, aiming to balance wildlife preservation with Singapore's transport infrastructure needs.

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1 Mar 2021

Carbon Emissions of Ride-hailing Industry and Proposal to Transit Industry to Electric Vehicles

Dennis Tan asked about the carbon emissions from Singapore's ride-hailing industry and plans to transition its vehicles to electric ones.
The government reported that ride-hailing generated 0.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions in 2020, about 4% of the land transport sector's total.
The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 commits taxi and private hire car companies to full cleaner energy fleets by 2040, with operators already adding electric vehicles.
The government is working with industry partners to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, noting progress such as cleaner energy vehicles rising from 18% to nearly 60% for taxis since 2018.
While no specific periodic milestones were set, the government highlighted ongoing efforts and collaboration to transition the ride-hail fleet to cleaner energy vehicles.

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1 Mar 2021

Number of Drivers Issued with Summons and Fined for Illegally Modifying Their Cars

In the past two years, the Land Transport Authority issued an average of 610 monthly notices to owners for illegal vehicle modifications such as non-compliant exhausts, lighting, and tinted windows.
The government has increased penalties for vehicle owners, including fines up to $5,000 or jail for first-time offenders, doubled penalties for repeat offenders, and mandatory more frequent inspections or vehicle de-registration for serious cases.
Enforcement against workshops is challenging due to difficulties in gathering evidence and owner cooperation, though the law was updated in 2017 to strengthen action against workshops, and LTA is exploring additional measures.

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1 Mar 2021

Installation of Speed Cameras in Incident-prone Areas

Joan Pereira asked about the criteria for installing speed cameras and whether they could be placed in areas with frequent speeding, especially at night.
The Minister of State replied that the Traffic Police considers locations with frequent speeding and accident-prone areas, regardless of time, and assesses terrain suitability, alongside daily anti-speeding operations and collaboration with LTA on other speed-regulating measures.
Pereira followed up with questions on the number of speed cameras in Singapore and enforcement actions in Tanjong Pagar, to which the Minister responded that there are 41 fixed and mobile cameras plus one average speed camera system, and that Traffic Police conducts patrols in Tanjong Pagar despite it not being a known speeding hotspot.

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26 Feb 2021

Rationale for Maximum Weight Limit of Commercial Vehicles in HDB Carparks

The 2,000 kg weight limit for commercial vehicles in HDB car parks is set for safety reasons, as heavier vehicles can obstruct other users' views, block door access, and cause noise or air pollution.
HDB allows some flexibility for vehicles slightly above the limit if they fit in the parking lot without causing obstructions or pollution, especially in surface car parks.
Multi-storey car parks have stricter weight limits due to structural constraints, so only vehicles near 2,000 kg that fit within the lot are permitted.
Commercial vehicles that cannot park in HDB facilities are directed to commercial, industrial, or heavy vehicle parks designed for such use.
The rationale focuses on balancing resident safety and convenience while maintaining flexibility for vehicles that meet basic fit and non-obstruction criteria.

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26 Feb 2021

Lowering Legal Vehicular Noise Limits in Residential Areas

Miss Rachel Ong questioned the possibility of lowering the legal vehicular noise limit in residential areas from 103 decibels to match the 75-decibel limit for nearby construction sites.
The Minister explained that vehicular and construction noise limits are not directly comparable due to differences in measurement methods and duration, with vehicular noise measured at the source and construction noise averaged over longer periods.
The National Environment Agency regularly reviews noise standards and collaborates with other agencies to implement infrastructural measures like dense planting and noise barriers to mitigate vehicular noise in residential areas.

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26 Feb 2021

Educating Cyclists on Section 11A of Road Traffic (Bicycles) Rules and Enforcement Efforts to Improve Road Safety

The Ministry educates cyclists on Section 11A through the Traffic Police’s “Use Your RoadSense” campaign and partnerships with groups like the Singapore Cycling Federation to promote safe practices, including using bicycle lights between 7 pm and 7 am.
Enforcement operations are conducted near Park Connector Network junctions to address cycling offences, including failure to display lights, with penalties for first-time and repeat offenders.
Public education and enforcement aim to improve road safety for both motorists and cyclists by raising awareness and deterring violations of bicycle light requirements.

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25 Feb 2021

Average Cost and Construction Duration of Building Sheltered Walkways and LTA's Criteria in Deciding Their Feasibility

The construction cost for standard covered linkways ranges from $200,000 to $300,000 per 100 metres, while high covered linkways for heavy vehicles cost about $600,000 per 100 metres.
Building a typical 400-metre covered linkway generally takes around nine months, though the duration can vary based on site conditions.
LTA evaluates the feasibility of sheltered walkways based on usage patterns, site constraints, and safety requirements, prioritising projects that connect large numbers of commuters to major public transport nodes.

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24 Feb 2021

Requirement for Developers to Spell Out Availability of Additional Car Parking on Roads Connecting Inter-terrace Houses in Estate to Allow Buyers to Make Informed Decisions

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked if developers must disclose whether roads between inter-terrace houses allow extra car parking to help buyers decide and prevent future complaints.
The Minister replied that housing developers already provide key project details under rules, including plans and any authority-imposed conditions, for buyer awareness.
He added that while authorities assess on-street parking on connecting roads, information may not be ready at sale, but buyers can request it from developers.

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24 Feb 2021

Criteria to Determine White Line, Broken White Line and No Line on a Road within a Private Estate

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for Transport about the criteria used to decide whether a road in a private estate with landed homes should have a single continuous white line, broken white line, or no line, and the proportion of each type of road in Singapore.
Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) engages with Advisers, grassroots leaders, and residents to determine parking restrictions, prioritizing road safety and traffic flow.
LTA does not maintain data on the proportion of private estate roads with a single continuous white line, broken white line, or no line.

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