Venture enough overseas, and you will realise that Singapore has one of the best public transport systems in the world.
Our network of buses and trains is clean, safe and reliable. In fact, there is hardly a place in Singapore that one cannot get to via public transport.
Therefore, it is no surprise that two public transport-related surveys conducted in 2022 found that commuters continue to be satisfied with public transport.
Sharing the news on Feb 13, 2023, Minister for Transport S Iswaran also expressed his gratitude to our public transport workers for consistently delivering safe, reliable and comfortable commutes for all of us.
Commuters’ satisfaction with public transport remains high
According to the Public Transport Customer Satisfaction Survey (PTCSS), 92.7 per cent of those surveyed were satisfied with our public transport and gave a mean satisfaction score of 7.8 out of 10.
Simultaneously, the Public Transport Survey for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) recorded an increase in mean satisfaction scores compared to the previous year.
For PwDs and their caregivers, waiting time, service information and accessibility registered the most substantial improvement among all public transport service attributes.
Building reliable and accessible public transport is all part of the Government’s plan to turn buses and trains into our preferred mode of transportation.
Building reliable and accessible public transport is a priority
With over 6 million bus and train trips daily, public transport is the backbone of Singapore.
As a result, the Government has spared no effort to make public transport convenient and accessible for all Singaporeans. This is evident from how our rail network has grown over the years.
By 2030, eight in 10 households will live within a ten-minute walk of a train station.
Singapore’s rail network has indeed come a long way.
As our rail network expands within the next decade (i.e. Jurong Region Cross Island and Thomson-East Coast Line), it will offer commuters a faster and more convenient way of getting around.
Of course, other than the expanding rail network, new buses and routes have also been rolled out as part of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme to reduce crowding and wait times and mitigate the first and last mile problem.
The way forward for Singapore would be to develop a car-lite society.
And while restricting the number of cars on the roads is a solution, a more sustainable option would be to transform our public transport network into a masterclass of connectivity, reliability and affordability.
Keeping public transport affordable
Besides improving connectivity, the Government is committed to ensure public transport remains affordable to all Singaporeans.
On the whole, we pay very little for a world-class public transport system compared to other major cities.
That is because public transport in Singapore is heavily subsidised by more than S$2 billion annually or S$1 for every journey.
In addition, the Government has been distributing Public Transport Vouchers over the years to help lower-income households with their transport costs.
As we can see, building a robust, people-centred public transport system that is accessible and affordable will continue to be a priority for the PAP Government in the years ahead.
While it will take some time before Singapore achieves its car-lite vision, one thing is for sure: That is how our public transport will continue to reach new heights and become a model that other countries aspire to emulate.
Images via: Changi Airport/Public Transport Council/MND/LTA