S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
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“For all new major developments, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) requires the developer to conduct a Transport Impact Assessment (TIA), including the need for any additional infrastructural improvements or mitigation measures. The developer of Affinity@Serangoon condominium has conducted a TIA taking into consideration other developments in the vicinity. To meet the expected increase in vehicular traffic, there are ongoing works to widen Serangoon North Avenue 1 abutting both development sites with an additional lane and to provide additional turning lanes at the junction at Serangoon North Avenue 1/Yio Chu Kang Road. These works will be progressively completed from this year onwards. In addition, LTA is upgrading the existing bus stops serving the developments. Wider footpaths and new cycling paths are also being constructed to make it easier for residents to walk or cycle to the upcoming Cross Island Line Serangoon North MRT station and nearby amenities. LTA will continue to monitor the situation, even after the completion of the developments, and will make further improvements as necessary.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration. The Land Transport Authority subjects both parallel importers and authorised motor dealers to the same set of technical requirements to import electric vehicles. These are set in accordance and compliance with internationally recognised vehicle safety standards.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA). They apply to new buildings and buildings undergoing redevelopment or reconstruction. All development submissions for such cases received by LTA have met the minimum requirements, and some have exceeded them. LTA monitors the adequacy of the bicycle parking provisions via surveys and feedback. Where parking demand is high, LTA works closely with developers to provide more bicycle parking spaces. To incentivise developers, bicycle parking spaces are exempted from the building’s GFA.”
“For safety reasons, cyclists may adjust the position of their headlights under different illumination conditions to see the path ahead and to be seen by other path users from a reasonable distance. Under the code of conduct for public path users, cyclists should avoid shining their lights onto the faces of other people. The Land Transport Authority will continue to emphasise gracious riding practices in its public education campaigns.”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement. [Please refer to (a) "Data on Families Owning More than One Car", Official Report, 29 November 2022, Vol 95, Issue 77, Oral Answers to Questions section; (b) "Proportion of Households Owning Two or More Cars", Official Report, 10 January 2023, Vol 95, Issue 80, Written Answers to Questions section; and (c) "Meeting the Transport Needs of Singaporeans", Official Report, 8 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 102, Ministerial Statements section.]”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate. Multiple factors can have an impact on COE prices, including but not limited to the general economic climate, changes in commuting patterns, and trends in consumer preferences. We are, therefore, mindful of the limitations of such analysis and cautious in drawing conclusions.”
“The proportion of car-owning households living in public housing was around 70% in 2013 and declined to 55% in 2019, before increasing and remaining stable at around 60% over the last three years.”
“Private hire cars (PHCs), including rental cars and cars used to provide ride-hail and car-sharing services, complement mass public transport by providing point-to-point (P2P) transport options for commuters. Such shared transport modes provide a useful alternative to private car ownership, especially for those who may need access to car-like services. They also enable more commuters to benefit from each vehicle, compared to individually-owned private cars. As more Singaporeans have come to rely on PHCs to meet their needs for car-like services, the demand for PHCs is expected to remain resilient. For instance, with the reopening of the economy and more people returning to workplaces, the average number of daily ride-hail trips fulfilled by PHCs has increased by about 33% since 2020, almost matching the pre-COVID-19 levels. Despite this, the total PHC population has averaged around 70,000 since 2019, after a period of rapid expansion from 2015 to 2017. As a proportion of the total car population, PHCs have remained stable at around 10% over the last four years. Capping the PHC population may cause the cost of services, such as ride-hail fares and car rental fees, to spike if demand goes up further. This will have adverse effects on commuters who rely on P2P services. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will continue to study the effect of PHCs, if any, on the market.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025. This is in line with our target for all new harbour craft to use net-zero solutions from 2030 and for the harbour craft sector to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. MPA is partnering A*STAR and research institutes, such as the Singapore Maritime Institute, to determine the power requirements for electric harbour craft and identify suitable charging locations. Beyond electrification, MPA will continue to support research and pilots in alternative net-zero fuels for the harbour craft sector. For new harbour craft that run on low or zero-carbon fuels or are fully electric, MPA provides a waiver of port dues for a period of five years from the licence commencement date.”
“The Road Opening Coordination Committee, which comprises Government agencies, such as the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Housing and Development Board, JTC and utility service providers, coordinates and consolidates construction or utility works which may require road excavation. Members circulate their planned works about six months in advance – with the intent to minimise road excavations. In most cases which require road excavations, LTA typically limits the closure to one road lane and provide replacement lanes wherever possible, so that the rest of the road can still be kept open for motorist access. This helps to avoid multi-lane closures and repeated road excavation works along the same stretch of road. In rare circumstances of major construction works which require more space, closing off roads to traffic may be required. For example, the construction of the Cross Island Line (CRL) Loyang Station and Loyang Viaduct required the partial closure of Loyang Avenue between Pasir Ris Drive 3 and Loyang Way. In such cases, LTA will carry out impact assessments to ensure that alternative routes are available, and their traffic loads are manageable. If necessary, additional mitigation measures, such as widening of surrounding roads and adjustments to traffic lights timing on the alternative routes, are also implemented to ensure safety and to minimise the impact on traffic. Engagements with affected stakeholders, including motorists, will also be carried out so that the public is aware of the changes and can make adjustments accordingly.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for her suggestion. I appreciate the spirit and intent of her suggestion, but we do have to bear in mind a couple of things in this regard. The first is that these matters are never undisputed. Usually, there is an element of dispute. So, ex ante, there is no case that just because one party has the details of the other party, it means the other party is the offender or the "culprit" – in the words of Member. So, any action taken by any Government organisation in terms of investigation or follow-up has to be meritorious, has to be on the basis that there are facts disclosed that point to that. Having said that, the key point here is, first, the incentives are actually there, by and large, for motorists to make such reports in compliance with their contract; because if the insurers were to find that they did not make such a report and subsequently, there are claims made and there is a set of issues, then for the party concerned, the risk is that they stand to lose their insurance cover and, without insurance cover, you cannot drive a vehicle on the roads according to our laws. So, that is a significant thing. Secondly, as I have said, we will see if there is scope to do anything further by way of mandate or requirements. But again, ultimately, no matter what the mandatory requirements are, the system functions best when all parties concerned are aware of their obligations under the law and fulfil those obligations.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her question. If I may layer my response, first, as the Member has observed herself, at least insofar as the number of complaints are concerned, it is a relatively small number, which suggests that, by and large, motorists do report these incidents, and it is partly because the incentive is there for them to do so; because if they do not, and if it were to come to pass that their insurer discovers this and it is a violation of the contractual condition, then there is a risk of losing the insurance contract. Secondly, a civil suit is obviously one solution and remedy available. There is a spectrum of other options available to the aggrieved party. This includes, of course, claiming from their own insurer which I know is not necessarily an ideal outcome, but it does address the substantial financial loss. However, it does mean that the no-claim bonus and so on might be affected in that regard. Amongst the GIA, there is a facility where such cases are referred to. And where the cases are assessed to be meritorious, there is also compensation available in that regard. Finally, to reiterate the point that I made earlier, we will study this further with MAS and with the industry and others to see if there is a need for further tightening in this regard to safeguard the interests of motorists, as the Member has highlighted.”
“Madam, in the last three years, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) have received 12 complaints and one complaint respectively, from insured parties about the counterparty failing to file an accident report with their insurer after being involved in a road accident. The General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA)'s Motor Claims Framework (MCF) sets out the procedures for all accidents to be reported to the insurer within 24 hours or by the next working day, which is incorporated as a condition of all motor insurance policies. The procedure is not, however, mandated legislatively. Notwithstanding the above, under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Risks and Compensation) Act, an insurer cannot refuse liability on the ground that the policyholder has not reported the accident. I repeat: an insurer cannot refuse liability on the grounds that the policyholder has not reported the accident if the third-party's claim is for bodily injury or death. Victims of road traffic accidents who remain unable to pursue insurance claims can file a civil claim against the counterparty or claim compensation from their own insurer. The Ministry of Transport (MOT), LTA and MAS will work with other relevant Government agencies and GIA to review and, if necessary, strengthen the requirements for reporting road traffic accidents to insurers.”
“Madam, may I take Questions No 9 and 10 together, please?”
“The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) take a serious view of all aviation safety incidents. Both CAAS and MOT's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau investigate thoroughly all safety incidents of Singapore air carriers and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure that the aircraft are operated safely. Scoot’s current safety incident rate is similar to its incident rate pre-COVID. It is also similar to the other Singapore air carriers' current average incident rate. CAAS will continue to monitor and carry out safety audits and inspections of Singapore air carriers to ensure a high level of safety in their aircraft operations.”
“For the three years between June 2020 and May 2023, there were about 180 errant riding offences detected on public paths in the Orchard Road area. These included riding power-assisted bicycles or motorised personal mobility devices on footpaths, speeding and riding pedal bicycles without handbrakes. Out of the 100 offenders who have already been identified, only one is a foreign national. The other cases are pending investigation. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has rolled out public education campaigns since 2016 to socialise device users to safe riding norms and publicise active mobility rules and guidelines. For example, the annual Move Happy campaign encourages gracious path sharing for all path users. LTA also works with the Singapore Tourism Board to educate tourists on the rules and guidelines for riding in Singapore and will continue to press on with such campaigns.”
“There are safety, hygiene, allergy and noise concerns from allowing pets on public transport which cannot be fully mitigated even if pets are on leash or in carrier bags. Setting aside train carriages and buses for pets will also reduce public transport capacity and inconvenience commuters who have concerns over travelling with animals. Notwithstanding this, we allow trained guide dogs on public transport as they are critical for some commuters with visual impairment to travel independently on public transport.”
“Insurance companies may cancel a motor insurance policy if the policyholder breaches any terms and conditions, including non-payment of insurance premium instalments. If the policyholder fails to make payment despite reminders or within the grace period given by the insurance company, the insurance company may decide to cancel the policy. Any person found guilty of driving an uninsured vehicle may be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to three months, or both. In addition, the offender will be disqualified from driving for a period of 12 months.”
“With ridership still recovering from the pandemic, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is evaluating the implementation of the trial to create priority carriages for select groups of commuters, taking into account changes in travel patterns and the impact on fellow commuters. In the meantime, we have been stepping up other initiatives to improve the commuting experience for those with additional needs, including invisible ones. These include efforts to shape commuter behaviour to be more mindful and caring towards others. For instance, the Helping Hand scheme allows those who require assistance to alert fellow commuters and public transport staff through a card that explains their needs. We are also increasing our outreach through the Caring Commuter Champion programme to provide commuters with the knowledge and skills to effectively assist others.”
“The North-South Corridor (NSC) is a 21.5-kilometre long corridor through densely built-up areas and challenging soil conditions, with more than half underground. While COVID-19-related disruptions have delayed the project by more than a year, more than 50% of the foundations for the road tunnels have been built. NSC is expected to be completed in phases from 2027. We target to open the viaduct portion of NSC from Admiralty Road West to Lentor Avenue in 2027, and the rest, comprising a road tunnel from Lentor Avenue to East Coast Parkway, in 2029. The surface streets will then be repurposed to prioritise walking, cycling, public transport and community spaces. Generally, construction activities are planned such that noisy works will take place during the day and will stop by 10.00 pm. To minimise inconvenience to stakeholders, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and its contractors deploy noise barriers, noise enclosures and fit mufflers on machinery to reduce noise levels. LTA also conducts localised stakeholder engagement and works with grassroots leaders to inform and update the public on project-specific information. The exception to the 10.00 pm stoppage requirement is safety critical works, such as the construction of the diaphragm wall, which must be carried out continuously past 10.00 pm on certain days. We are mindful of the inconvenience to residents and other nearby stakeholders during such periods and will explain to them the safety critical works through circulars before commencement. Construction noise from NSC is expected to be reduced after completion of the foundation works in two years' time. In the meantime, we will continue to take all necessary measures to minimise the disamenities caused.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has regulations in place to ensure that personal mobility aids (PMAs) are used safely and responsibly. These include disallowing the use of PMAs on roads and having a 10 kilometre/hour speed limit on public paths. LTA conducts regular enforcement island-wide to ensure users comply with these regulations. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing the rules and regulations applicable to PMAs, which is expected to be completed by end of the year. It has been engaging various stakeholders, including food delivery platforms, persons with mobility challenges, occupational therapists, medical professionals, among others.”
“During the Ministry of Transport's Committee of Supply (COS) Debate in March 2023, we announced the plans for harbour craft operating in our port waters to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. More details can be found on MOT’s COS 2023 webpage: https://www.mot.gov.sg/what-we-do/cos2023.”
“The trial to power Raffles Lighthouse using tidal energy is expected to run for six months. Should the trial show that tidal energy is viable, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore will study suitable sea areas around Singapore where tidal energy can be adopted.”
“This Question has been addressed in my reply to Question No 9 for Oral Answer on the Order Paper for 9 May 2023. [Please refer to "Ridership Demand Considerations in New Fare Adjustment Formula", Official Report, 9 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 103, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“We do not track the data to this level of detail. As I shared in my Ministerial Statement on Meeting the Transport Needs of Singaporeans on 8 May 2023, the Category B median Open Market Value (OMV) has been about 75% higher than the Category A median OMV in recent years. Specifically, for the first quarter of 2023, the Category A median OMV was $25,525, and the Category B median OMV was $44,866. [Please refer to "Meeting the Transport Needs of Singaporeans", Official Report, 8 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 102, Ministerial Statements section.]”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts travel surveys to better understand the mode of transport that people use for their work commutes. Recent surveys showed that the proportion who primarily cycle to work remains small, at less than 2%. LTA had recently completed six kilometres of cycling paths in the Central Area, stretching from Clarke Quay to Bayfront and Tanjong Pagar. There are also existing and upcoming cycling networks in regional centres, such as Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong. Other than intra-town cycling paths, we are also exploring options for longer-distance commutes. One such example is the North-South Corridor, designed with a cycling trunk route that would connect cyclists directly from the northern region to the city. LTA will continue to consider factors, such as connectivity to transport nodes, amenities and workplaces, feedback from the local community and site conditions, when planning for cycling paths island-wide. We are also working closely with fellow Government agencies to bring jobs closer to homes in our suburban heartlands, which will make cycling more viable as a work commute choice.”
“As at March 2023, over 400 taxis and over 700 chauffeured private hire cars (PHCs) are fully electric. This amounts to about 2.9% and 1.5% of taxi and chauffeured PHC populations respectively. As for self-drive PHCs, more commonly known as rental cars for personal use, about 700 or 2.7% are fully electric. Taxi operators have committed that at least half of their taxis will be electric by 2030. Grab has committed for 50% of its GrabRentals fleet to be electric by 2030. These targets are part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and remain unchanged. The Land Transport Authority will continue working closely with taxi and PHC operators to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles.”
“As of 31 March 2023, about 264,000 of the 600,000 Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) made available in the 2022 exercise have been sent to households. These include 240,000 vouchers automatically sent to households that continue to meet the eligibility criteria from the 2021 exercise. The Ministry of Transport and People's Association aim to ensure that no household that needs a PTV is denied one. We do give out PTVs to needy households that exceed the household income criteria but nonetheless have special circumstances that require additional assistance. These households may submit an appeal online or in person at their local Community Centres or Clubs from now until 31 October 2023. The availability of the PTVs was announced on 12 October 2022 together with the 2022 Fare Review Exercise and again on 12 January 2023. Outreach channels include posters in buses and at public transport nodes. We urge those who need help with public transport cost and meet the criteria to apply for PTVs from now till 31 October 2023.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) does not track the number of riders who have taken up third-party liability insurance (TPLI). However, it is mandatory for businesses to ensure that all their riders using active mobility devices on public paths have adequate TPLI coverage during their course of work. LTA also strongly encourages all riders to take up TPLI and provides information on such products in its educational materials. With these education and enforcement efforts, the number of accidents involving active mobility devices on public paths has decreased from 162 in 2020 to 101 in 2022.”
“The national Electric Vehicle (EV) charging standard, Technical Reference 25 (TR25), sets out the technical safety requirements for EV charging systems in Singapore, such as dedicated charging stations or fixed chargers, and non-fixed chargers. Non-fixed chargers – which could be plugged into radio frequency identification power points – have a higher risk of unsafe use than fixed chargers. For this reason, under TR25, non-fixed chargers at publicly accessible locations are only permitted at a lower power rating, which, consequently, leads to slower charging speeds as compared to fixed chargers. Therefore, from a public safety and charging efficiency point of view, fixed chargers are the more feasible option for our public charging network. Globally, fixed chargers are also the most common mode of charging. The Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority will continue to monitor developments in charging technology and facilitate the safe use of promising charging solutions.”
“So far, the performance of Thomson-East Coast Line systems has been on par with other mass rapid transit lines in the initial phase of revenue service. Specific faults have been picked up during this initial phase. Examples include minor glitches in train-borne software and issues with pressure sensors on a single train. These were isolated issues that were rectified successfully without significant disruption to train services. The Land Transport Authority will continue to work closely with rail system contractors and rail operators to prevent and resolve such teething issues.”
“There were five service disruptions on the North-South and East-West Lines that lasted more than five minutes between January and April 2023. SMRT has completed its investigations into the root causes of all five incidents and they were found to be unrelated to one another. Based on the investigation outcome, SMRT has implemented additional precautionary checks on similar and related sub-systems in other parts of the line and stepped up the pre-emptive replacement of key components to prevent recurrence of these faults. This is in accordance with the existing Maintenance Performance Standards imposed on both rail operators under their licences.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The PTO staff conduct inspections of the various facilities, including the buses and the transport nodes, on a daily basis. As part of the protocol, this includes the charging points as well. So, it is not specifically just about these charging points for these USB ports; it is part of the larger regular inspection regime that they have and conduct. They are trained to pay particular attention to this, as I elaborated earlier.”
“Madam, there have been no reported attempts to breach wifi access points or public charging stations at our public transport nodes. Wi-fi access points at transport nodes operate via the Wireless@SGx network and comply with prevailing standards by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Data transmitted via Wireless@SGx is encrypted. Charging stations, which are provided by public transport operators (PTOs), can only transmit power, and not data, to and from devices. Specifically, the USB ports in public transport nodes already have their data transmission pins removed. Only power transmission pins are present in the ports. The PTOs' staff can pick up signs of physical tampering through regular visual inspection and feedback from commuters. Closed-circuit television cameras can also detect and deter such attempts. The charging stations are accompanied by signs reminding users to practise good cyber hygiene, such as using their own power plugs and cables. In addition, members of the public are encouraged to refer to the joint advisory by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and Singapore Police Force on 18 April 2023 on protecting mobile devices from malicious wireless and wired connections.”
“And the reason was because of the combination of both the fare increase and the economic circumstances. It is not fully taken up, but I know that more than half, or quite a significant proportion, has been taken up, or in that order of magnitude. The key point is we are ready to help not just as a first cut, but also where there are instances where additional help is needed, we are happy to look into this and render the necessary support. On the point about staff being well trained, I agree with the Member fully. That is why we do emphasise this. It is not just about how you can access concession fares or PTVs and so on. That is one important element. It is also about things like inclusivity, rendering assistance to those who may have difficulties moving around, information on wayfinding and so on, because these things are important complements to what we already do through the infrastructure. So, the Member's point is well taken, and this is an ongoing effort to improve the frontline service level that we have in our public transport system.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her question and suggestion. Whether we track for concessions, basically, this is a function of how much the concession card holder uses, whether it is for a train or a bus, because every time they use it, they will tap and get that discounted fare – that is the concession card formulation. I do not have a precise number, but I think ex ante, as I have said, our public transport ridership is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now about 90% of the pre-pandemic level and it also is a quite variegated outcome. Because when you look at the Downtown Core, the recovery is lower. But when you look at some of the heartland areas and the industrial areas, it is much stronger. I think it is a reflection of changing habits and work-from-home, and so on. So, we need to see how this thing pans out. But specifically, then, what it means is we think the usage patterns amongst some of the specific groups, like seniors and so on, has recovered in tandem with this overall rise. And I would be happy to give a more specific response if the Member wants to file something more precise on that. Then, on the issue of take-up rates of the PTVs, as I said, they work in different tranches. One tranche is when we just send it out by post to all those who were previously eligible and continue to be eligible; and they get it automatically. Then, there is the second tranche where they can apply and the application can go through the website and also to the community centre and so on. And then, the third tranche is when they make appeals and so on. Our take-up rates, I know that they are quite significant. We were quite generous in providing for PTVs in the last round – 600,000.”
“And also, there are the cards that you buy per month, the season passes if you like, which as I have explained, for example, it is at $64 for senior citizens at this point, which is approximately $2 a day for unlimited travel. So, we do that for seniors, for PwDs, for lower-income workers, for students and so on. And then, finally, when there is a fare adjustment made – in other words a fare increase – in tandem with that, we typically implement PTVs or issue them especially to help those who are in the more vulnerable brackets, and that is what we did in the last exercise. To the Member's question on whether there is scope to increase or enhance the support that is accorded, I think that is an area that we continue to work on across all three levels. So, whether it is in terms of the systemic support through subsidies, through the targeted support that we do through concession fares and so on, and also through specific moves in tandem with any fare adjustment through PTVs. And we are continuing to see how we can improve this to better meet the needs of specific groups of commuters.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. His first point, his essential point is whether transport subsidies – and I think by this he means specifically for commuters – will be increased, given that we are increasing the scale. So, if I may, as a starting point, reiterate that in the provision of public transport in Singapore, our aspiration has always been to raise the quality and accessibility. At the same time, to make sure that it is affordable for Singaporeans and also ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the provision. This is essentially the triangulation that the PTC seeks to achieve through its recommendations and the Government seeks to attain through the implementation of various policy measures. Having said that, in terms of the level of subsidy that we accord public transport, it is at different levels. The first and at the systemic level is what we do for buses and trains. And I have said this before, today we provide about a billion dollars each for buses and trains by way of subsidy from the Government. I would add that any fare increase that is not implemented is also rolled over and that adds to the subsidy and/or the support that is accorded public transport from the Government, the public purse. So, because we deferred a significant portion of the fare increase last year, we now have another $200 million of subsidies – a fare deferral consequence. That is at the system level. Secondly, we have provisions for targeted assistance and that was what I was elaborating on earlier. Whether it is concession fares, where there is the normal adult fare, and then those who hold concession cards can pay at a reduced rate.”
“Concession card holders can purchase a monthly pass at mass rapid transit stations and bus interchanges or through the SimplyGo mobile app or website if they have upgraded their cards. Singaporean and Permanent Resident adults can similarly enjoy unlimited journeys by applying for an identifiable card and purchasing a monthly pass through the same means. The PTC had suggested that more could be done to raise awareness of these passes and prompt heavy public transport users who benefit from such passes to do so. The Government will look into how to support this suggestion. Finally, when fares increase, the Government makes available Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs) to eligible households to help defray their higher public transport expenditure. Arising from the fare adjustment last year, 600,000 PTVs with a value of $30 are available for resident households with monthly household income per person of not more than $1,600. The 240,000 households that received a PTV from the previous exercise, and continue to meet the eligibility criteria, have automatically received their PTVs via post. Other eligible households can apply online or at the community centres. Those not eligible can also appeal online or at community centres. This information is publicised via posters in buses and public transport nodes. And I seek Members' assistance to inform your residents as well, so that more can benefit from these schemes.”
“The Jurong Region Line is slated to open from 2027 and will only be considered in the next fare formula review. The PTC opted to exclude ridership from "C" because of uncertainties in ridership recovery over the next few years, with changing commuting patterns and flexible work arrangements. While ridership at the system level is at about 90% of pre-COVID-19 levels, the recovery has been uneven. For example, journeys to the Downtown Core are still at about 70% of pre-COVID-19 levels and ridership could be considered in subsequent fare formula reviews when ridership fully recovers. In the meantime, fixing "C" at 1.1% for the next five years will reduce potential variability in fares arising from the uncertain recovery of ridership. Whatever the formula, the Government remains committed to keeping fares affordable. And that is why on top of fully funding the public transport infrastructure, we subsidise public transport operations at more than $2 billion every year or, as I have said just yesterday, more than $1 for every public transport journey. As a result, households now spend a smaller share of their income on public transport compared to a decade ago. In addition to the broad-based subsidy that all commuters enjoy, more than two million commuters – one in two Singaporeans – including students, seniors, persons with disabilities (PwDs) and lower-wage workers pay concessionary fares which are up to 70% lower than adult fares. And these groups either receive their concession cards automatically or are invited to apply for them. Monthly passes can help heavy users cap their public transport expenditure. For example, seniors can purchase a monthly concession pass for $64 to enjoy unlimited journeys on buses and trains for about $2 per day.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, my reply will also address questions by Ms Hany Soh1 and Mr Shawn Huang which had been filed for a subsequent Sitting on the same topic. The Public Transport Council (PTC) has released its recommendations on changes to the fare adjustment formula and mechanism to reduce volatility of fare adjustments, while ensuring fare affordability for commuters and the financial sustainability of the public transport system. The Government has accepted the PTC's recommendations. The new fare formula will be applied from this year's Fare Review Exercise, which will be carried out in the later part of this year. There will be no changes in fares until then. The new fare formula replaces the Network Capacity Factor with the Capacity Adjustment Factor, or NCF with "C". Both measure public transport capacity, which benefits commuters through improved connectivity and faster journey times. The difference is that NCF was computed every year and factors in ridership alongside capacity – it is positive when capacity grows faster than ridership and negative when ridership grows faster than capacity. In its first three years, the NCF ranged from 1.6% to 3.9%. But the NCF was not designed for situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when ridership fell sharply. As a result, NCF was suspended when it spiked to 50% in the 2021 Fare Review Exercise. To reduce this variability, the PTC proposed "C", which is fixed for the next five years at 1.1%. This reflects both the actual and planned growth in public transport capacity from 2020 to 2026, largely arising from the opening of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL). Aside from TEL, "C" also takes into account short segments of the North-East, Downtown and Circle Lines which will open during this period.”
“I have addressed this question in my Ministerial Statement on Parliamentary Question Nos 1 to 7 at the 8 May 2023 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Meeting the Transport Needs of Singaporeans", Official Report, 8 May 2023, Vol 95, Issue 102, Ministerial Statements section.]”
“Rail projects are major and complex public investments. A comprehensive range of factors is assessed before any decision is made to build a new rail line, including existing and future land use developments along the corridor, existing public transport options and engineering considerations. Studies by the Land Transport Authority are ongoing and updates will be provided when ready.”
“Public buses pay Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges. These are borne by the public transport operators (PTOs) as part of their operating costs. The total amounts of ERP paid by the PTOs in the last three years are $1,910,847 in 2020, $153,231 in 2021, and $399,829 in 2022.”
“Today, electric vehicle (EV) drivers from Singapore can charge their cars in Malaysia at various locations, such as shopping malls and petrol stations, along the North-South highway. Some EV charging operators have even integrated their charging networks such that payment for charging in both countries can be done on the same application. The Government is working with Malaysia to further facilitate cross-border charging of EVs, including coordinating standards to enhance inter-operability.”
“In response to higher ridership in Yishun Town, peak-period intervals for Service 801 were reduced from 12 to eight minutes in October 2022. The bus arrival timings displayed on the panels at bus interchanges and on the MyTransport.SG app are both based on the same Bus Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) system. When bus operators adjust the departure timing for a particular service, there may be a time lag before the updated information is shown on the bus interchange panels and the MyTransport.SG app. Hence, it is possible for the app and display panels to momentarily show different arrival times. To further enhance the information flow, the Land Transport Authority is working with Tower Transit Singapore to connect its bus trip dispatch system with the ETA system by end-May 2023.”
“I note that the Member has asked several Parliamentary Questions on this issue in recent years. We share his underlying concern for the safety of our workers. As explained in previous Parliamentary replies, from a road safety perspective, it would be ideal for lorries not to carry any passengers in their rear decks. However, there are significant practical and operational considerations. This is why practices are varied internationally. For example, to our knowledge, countries, such as Thailand, as well as several jurisdictions in countries, such as Canada and the United States of America, allow for passengers to be ferried in the rear deck of goods vehicles travelling on roads, albeit with safety precautions and some restrictions. In Singapore, we have taken a multi-pronged approach to tackling this issue through a working committee comprising the Land Transport Authority, Ministry of Manpower, Traffic Police and the Building Construction Authority. The Committee engages and works closely with the key stakeholders, including lorry suppliers and companies, especially small and medium enterprises, to study measures to enhance safety for their workers. This is a continuing effort which the Government has undertaken over the years, taking into consideration the latest developments. Arising from this process, we have progressively implemented various measures to improve worker safety, including the requirement for all lorries ferrying passengers to be fitted with rain covers and the driver of the lorry to have worked no more than 12 hours that day. We will continue to study further measures to improve the safety of workers being transported.”
“Yes. I thank Mr Leong for clarifying that he is not making the argument that foreigners are depriving Singaporeans of cars, because he has been known to make that argument in other contexts. So, I wanted to be very sure about it. It is okay. You do not need to pursue the matter. But having said that, I just want to thank all Members for a very vigorous clarification session. The objective, if I may restate, with your indulgence, Mr Deputy Speaker, is that we need to make sure that all of us in this House and Singaporeans in general understand the fundamental constraints that we are dealing with. We cannot run away from them and those constraints around land, around carbon emissions and what we need to do are something that we will have to grapple with. Previous Transport Ministers have had to do this, I am doing it, future Transport Ministers will have to do this. But, in the end, they need this House to support and also the broader society because if we do not internalise these constraints, then we are always going to be unhappy with the outcome. What we do need to do though is then work on all the other options and solutions so that we can make the transport system in Singapore not just car-lite but, as I have said, accessible and inclusive and sustainable. [Applause.] 2.03 pm”
“But the fundamental objective, which is the point that the Member is also driving at, we want to ensure that there is an element of progressivity in our COE system. And that is why we have two categories. And, as I said in my Ministerial Statement, we will continue to look at this and if there is a need to adjust the criteria that divide the two categories, we will look at it. But as of now, there is no compelling reason and, certainly, not to use the OMV.”