Singapore Govt to spend S$900 Million to enhance public bus connectivity

Over the next eight years, the Singapore government will invest up to $900 million to improve public bus connectivity under a new initiative aimed at speeding up the roll-out of bus services in new towns and introducing express feeder buses with fewer stops.

This significant investment, announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Tuesday (30 July), is part of the new Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme.

Key Enhancements in Public Bus Services

As part of this programme, more peak-hour express bus services, including those from housing estates to the city, will be introduced to complement busier MRT lines.

In response to changing travel patterns, additional bus trips will be added to certain routes, new services will be rolled out, and some bus routes will be adjusted.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, speaking at the Ministry of Transport’s headquarters in Alexandra Road, highlighted that the new funds would be used to purchase more buses, hire additional bus drivers and maintenance staff, and build new infrastructure such as bus stops.

This multi-year scheme will be tailored to the needs of commuters in different locations, developed in consultation with grassroots advisers.

Responding to Changing Travel Patterns

LTA noted that with the pace of housing development accelerating in recent years, travel patterns have shifted, increasing demand for bus services.

Some precincts in newer housing estates, farther from town centres and MRT stations, and new developments in mature estates will be better served under this programme.

Areas with fewer public bus services or increased resident numbers and higher passenger loads on MRT and buses will also benefit.

To serve early residents in new estates, LTA plans to introduce a new bus service by the end of September to connect residents in new and upcoming Build-To-Order developments in Yishun East with Khatib MRT station.

Additionally, new express feeder services will take more direct routes with fewer stops, reducing travel time for residents to and from major transport nodes.

New Services and Adjustments

In December, a new express feeder bus service will provide Tampines North residents with a direct link to Tampines MRT station.

More peak-hour express services, including a new City Direct Service from Punggol starting in October, will be introduced for those traveling to the Central Business District. An existing bus service in Toa Payoh East will be extended by the end of 2024 to connect residents with the Thomson-East Coast and Circle lines at Caldecott MRT station.

Historical Context and Future Plans

The new bus enhancement programme mirrors the earlier $1.1 billion Bus Service Enhancement Programme, which added 1,000 government-funded buses to Singapore’s roads and introduced 80 bus services from 2012 to 2017.

Many of these services were feeder or short trunk services to improve local connectivity in newly developed areas like Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, Punggol, and Yishun.

Despite the new funds, LTA stressed the importance of spending public transport resources prudently. The authority will continue to review and adjust the bus network, reallocating any potential savings.

Mr Chee emphasized that optimizing current bus routes alone would not meet the commuting needs of residents, necessitating additional government resources.

“Having taken a look at the overall picture, and to be able to meet the commuting needs of our residents, we have decided to pump in additional resources from the Government,” Mr Chee said.