Transport — Topics

2 Nov 2020

Annual Number of COEs Going to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreigners from 2000 to 2019

Ms Hazel Poa requested the Minister for Transport to provide the annual number of COEs allocated to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners from 2000 to 2019.
The Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, noted that complete COE records are only available from 2002 onwards.
On average annually since 2002, 22.5% of COEs went to companies registered in Singapore, 77% to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents combined, and 0.5% to foreigners.
The Land Transport Authority does not separately track the detailed breakdown between Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents.
The response clarified that data prior to 2002 is not comprehensively available in the same manner.

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2 Nov 2020

Regulation of Driver Assignments by Private Hire Car Operators to Minimise Unnecessary Travelling Time by Drivers and Pollution

Dennis Tan asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA regulates how private hire car operators assign booked trips to drivers, whether LTA requires assignments to the nearest drivers to reduce unnecessary travel and pollution, and if not, whether such requirements will be considered.
Ong Ye Kung responded that LTA does not regulate how private hire car operators assign trips, as operators use their own algorithms.
He explained that commercially, it makes sense for operators to match passengers to nearby drivers to minimise waiting time and maximise trip allocations.

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2 Nov 2020

Extension of Season Parking Fee Waiver for Private Bus/Coach Season Pass Holders at All Government-owned Carparks after 2 October 2020

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the season parking fee waiver for private bus and coach season pass holders at Government-owned car parks would be extended beyond 2 October 2020.
Chan Chun Sing confirmed that a six-month waiver was initially announced from 1 May to 31 October 2020.
He stated that the waiver has already been extended until 31 March 2021.
The extension applies to all current private bus and coach season parking holders at Government-owned car parks.
The original debate title references 2 October 2020, but the actual extension date is 31 March 2021.

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2 Nov 2020

Accidents involving Group Cycling and Measures to Manage Safety of Road Users

From 2017 to 2019, there were 1,556 cyclist-related accidents with injuries or fatalities, a decline from 596 in 2017 to 459 in 2019, though the police do not track if cyclists were in large groups.
The Traffic Police uses a three-pronged approach of enforcement, education, and engagement, conducting targeted enforcement at hotspots and against unsafe cycling behavior, with penalties including fines up to $2,000 and imprisonment.
Educational efforts include partnerships with the Land Transport Authority and community groups to promote safe cycling, such as advisories limiting cyclists to two abreast in multi-lane roads and single file in single-lane roads.
The police also run road safety talks for motorists to educate them on safe driving practices when encountering cyclists on the roads.

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2 Nov 2020

Timeline between Issuance of Summonses for LTA Offences and Date of Offence

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the median time between offence dates and summons issuance by LTA and whether there are guidelines preventing summonses beyond three months.
Ong Ye Kung stated that 99% of summonses are issued within two weeks of confirming an offence, covering common cases like ERP non-payment and illegal parking.
For non-straightforward cases requiring deeper investigation, LTA may take longer to ensure fairness and avoid prejudicing outcomes.

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2 Nov 2020

Update on Fire Incident in MRT Tunnel on 16 October 2020

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the number of engineering locomotives in service during the incident, whether the damaged locomotive would affect SMRT’s maintenance, and the safety measures for tunnel fires.
Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that a small fire caused by leaking lubricant oil was quickly extinguished by SMRT staff within 20 minutes, with no damage to railway parts or impact on train services or maintenance.
SMRT is conducting a fleet-wide check on gaskets and critical components and will review with the supplier, while all tunnels have ventilation fans, trains carry fire extinguishers, staff are trained in firefighting, and standard evacuation procedures exist.

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2 Nov 2020

Securing Medical and Accident Protection for Ride Hailing and Delivery Drivers

The Minister for Transport outlined existing industry and regulatory measures, such as insurance coverage for medical, accident, and prolonged medical leave, and mandatory third-party liability insurance for food delivery riders.
He highlighted tripartite and SkillsFuture initiatives, including training programs, career transition portals, and Medisave contribution schemes, to support drivers' skill development and retirement planning.
The new Point-to-Point Transport framework prevents platform exclusivity, allowing drivers to work across multiple platforms while maintaining incentives for innovation and service quality.

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2 Nov 2020

Standard Operating Procedure for Technical Teams to Follow When Investigating MRT Service Disruptions

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked whether there is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for technical teams investigating MRT service disruptions, how compliance with the SOP will be ensured to prevent recurrences, and what steps will be taken to ensure safe distancing at bus stops during such disruptions.
Minister Ong Ye Kung acknowledged the question and noted that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) released investigation findings on 28 October 2020, which he would address in his reply at the 3 November 2020 Parliament sitting.

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2 Nov 2020

Multimodal Transport Bill

The Multimodal Transport Bill was introduced to implement the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport signed in Vientiane in 2005.
The bill was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Transport on behalf of the Minister for Transport and received its first reading in Parliament.
It was scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and ordered to be printed.

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15 Oct 2020

Delay in Roll-out of Distance-based Charging in Next-generation ERP System

Gerald Giam questioned the delay in implementing distance-based charging in the next-generation ERP system, seeking reasons, a timeline, and details on the $556 million contract spent on this feature.
Senior Minister of State Amy Khor explained that the current ERP system is outdated, and the new system uses GNSS technology to replace gantries and provide real-time traffic data, with distance-based charging being a potential future feature but still years away.
Khor stated there is no specific cost attributed to distance-based charging as it is part of the system design, and the government needs time to study options and let the new system settle before deciding on implementation.
Giam’s supplementary questions raised concerns about revenue neutrality, impact on drivers like taxi and delivery workers, and coupon-less parking, but Khor responded that these issues are premature to address as distance-based charging is not imminent.
The rollout of the next-generation ERP system is scheduled for the second half of 2021 over 18 months, with focus on installation and data collection before further decisions on distance-based charging are made.

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14 Oct 2020

Extension of COE Renewal in Light of COVID-19 Crisis

Christopher de Souza proposed allowing car owners to renew their COE for an additional five years at the 15-year mark if they had previously chosen a five-year renewal at the 10-year mark, citing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Ong Ye Kung explained that COEs are typically valid for 10 years, with a five-year renewal option available for vehicles that may not last another decade, but this requires deregistration after five years.
He noted that while most owners comply with this requirement, it would be unfair to grant exceptions for those who later change their minds, even considering the pandemic's effects.
Ong Ye Kung also mentioned that owners have the option to renew for a full 10 years upfront and receive a rebate if the vehicle is deregistered early.

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14 Oct 2020

Update on Plan to Provide 28,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Points by 2030

The government plans to increase electric vehicle charging points from 1,700 to 28,000 by 2030 to support phasing out combustion engine vehicles by 2040.
About two-thirds of the charging points will be in HDB estates, with studies showing 400 of 1,200 carparks can immediately support overnight charging while others need upgrades.
The remaining points will be in government-owned locations like offices or roadside carparks, excluding private installations, which could lead to a ratio of eight EVs per charging point by 2030.
Agencies are reviewing the plan to incorporate commercial efforts and improve the EV-to-charging-point ratio, with details to be announced later.

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6 Oct 2020

Barrier-free Covered Linkways to Ensure First and Last Mile Connectivity to Commmunity Clubs and Centres

Hany Soh asked if more barrier-free covered linkways will be built to ensure first and last mile connectivity from transportation nodes to all community clubs and centres in Singapore.
Ong Ye Kung explained that LTA builds such linkways for community clubs within 400 metres of MRT stations or 200 metres of LRT stations and bus interchanges, subject to site constraints and the club’s own covered linkways.
He added that LTA considers existing alternative sheltered paths to avoid duplication and allocate budget efficiently.

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6 Oct 2020

Timeline for Noise Barriers Along Bukit Batok MRT Station to be Erected

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport about the timeline for erecting noise barriers along the MRT track at Bukit Batok MRT station.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the installation of noise barriers on the Bukit Batok MRT viaduct is on track to be completed by the second quarter of 2021.
He emphasized that the Land Transport Authority remains committed to mitigating the impact of noise for residents living nearby.

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6 Oct 2020

Proposal for Sheltered Walkway on Singapore Side of Johor-Woodlands Causeway

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport about Singapore's plans to build a sheltered walkway on the Singapore side of the Causeway, following Malaysia's announcement to build one on its side.
The Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, responded that there is an existing pedestrian walkway on Singapore's side, which is currently sufficient to meet the needs of travellers.
The debate centered on whether additional sheltered infrastructure is needed given Malaysia's proposed project.
No further commitments or plans for a new sheltered walkway in Singapore were indicated in the response.
The exchange highlighted differing perspectives on cross-border infrastructure adequacy.

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6 Oct 2020

Incentivising Public Transport Operators to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Leon Perera asked if the Ministry's contracts with public transport operators include sustainability clauses to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Ong Ye Kung stated that the Government owns public transport infrastructure and assets, enabling it to advance sustainability goals directly.
LTA is purchasing cleaner energy vehicles, with trials of hybrid and electric buses, aiming for a 100% cleaner energy bus fleet by 2040.
New rail stations since 2014 are designed to minimize emissions, and operators comply with energy efficiency laws.
The government aims to increase the Walk-Cycle-Ride mode share from 72% in 2019 to 90% by 2040 to promote carbon-efficient commuting.

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6 Oct 2020

Call to Re-instate Percentage Share of COEs for Motorcycles

Henry Kwek asked the Minister for Transport to increase and re-instate the percentage share of COEs for motorcycles to its historical norm, noting that motorcycle COEs have been allocated to the Open COE category in recent years with low usage.
Ong Ye Kung responded that since May 2017, the contribution of Category D COEs to Category E has been ceased, which has stabilised the Category D market.
He noted that the total motorcycle population has remained largely unchanged over the past three years.
He explained that the Vehicle Growth Rate for motorcycles has been 0% since 2018, so the Category D COE quota supply primarily depends on the number of motorcycles deregistered in preceding months.

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6 Oct 2020

Number of Accidents Caused by Leisure Riders Versus Delivery Riders

Carrie Tan asked the Minister for Transport to provide the number of accidents caused by leisure riders versus delivery riders on personal mobility devices since the 2017 Active Mobility Act revision.
Ong Ye Kung responded that between January 2017 and July 2020, there were about 490 reported accidents involving personal mobility devices on public paths.
The government does not track the breakdown of accidents by different types of PMD riders, such as leisure versus delivery riders.
Despite the lack of data, delivery riders are heavier users of active mobility devices, so businesses will be required to ensure their users have third-party liability insurance from December 2020.
This insurance requirement aims to improve accident victims’ access to compensation and protect riders from large claims.

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6 Oct 2020

Implications of Converting Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit into Light Rail Transit

The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed that the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will use an LRT system instead of the TEL, with a peak capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, and is scheduled to start passenger service by end 2026.
The change to LRT does not require major infrastructure changes and the station will remain next to the Woodlands North TEL station, with a new depot in Wadi Hana, Johor Bahru, and maintenance overseen by a joint venture company involving both Singapore's SMRT and Malaysia's Prasarana.
The government emphasized that bilateral agreements include safeguards to ensure project continuity despite potential political changes in Malaysia, and the joint venture structure ensures shared responsibility for system reliability and commuter needs.

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5 Oct 2020

Number of Pedestrian Overhead Bridges with Lifts Installed and Plans to Install More Lifts at Mature Estates

There are about 580 pedestrian overhead bridges in Singapore, with 71 equipped with ramps and 48 with lifts for barrier-free access.
Plans are in place to install lifts at approximately 50 more pedestrian overhead bridges, prioritizing locations that benefit many seniors and commuters with mobility challenges.
Priority will be given to bridges near public transport nodes and healthcare institutions where no other barrier-free crossings are nearby, including mature estates like Woodgrove.

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