Public Transport Council

Public Transport Council
Agency overview
Formed August 1987
Jurisdiction Government of Singapore
Headquarters 510 Thomson Road, #12-03, SLF Building, Singapore 298135
Agency executive
  • Richard Magnus[1], Chairman
Parent agency Ministry of Transport
Website Official website Edit this at Wikidata

The Public Transport Council (Abbreviation: PTC; Chinese: 公共交通理事会, Pinyin: Gōnggòng Jiāotōng Lǐshìhuì; Malay: Majlis Pengangkutan Awam) is an independent regulatory statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of Singapore, established on 14 August 1987 by the Public Transport Council Act of 1987. PTC regulates the public bus and rapid transit network in areas such as fares and service standards.

PTC is also authorised to issue and do amendments to bus service licences, and advises the Ministry of Transport on areas such as conditions on licensees and imposing of penalties on non-complying licensees.

As announced by Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, PTC will no longer be issuing penalties and fines despite multiple major breakdowns on the MRT system: "If you ask me, my preference is not to go back to this old system of penalties and fines because it created a very adversarial relationship between the regulator and the operator".[2] It is not known how the PTC is going to maintain service standards without imposing any penalties.

Criticisms

As the public transport fare regulator, the Council was criticised on various occasions when it approved fare hike proposals from public transport operators.[3] Some of its policies are deemed as pro-operators rather than pro-commuters.[4] As such, the Workers' Party called for the dissolution of the Council in favour of a not-for-profit corporation in the leadup to the 2006 general elections.[5]

Fare adjustments

Fare hike of 2006

In 2006, the PTC approved applications from transport operators SBS Transit and SMRT for an overall increase in bus and train fares of 1.7%.[6] The fare adjustment took effect on 1 October 2006. The PTC justified the increase in fares based on the positive economic outlook in 2006 and a comparison of average public transport fares across cities of Hong Kong, London and New York City which have higher fares. Critics were however skeptical of PTC's justifications, pointing to flaws in the survey conducted by SMU where three quarters of respondents polled said fares were affordable.[7][8][9]

Fare reduction of 2009

From 1 April 2009, commuters saw an overall 4.6% reduction in bus and train fares. The reduction comprises a fare rebate (to 30 June 2010) and a transfer rebate.[10] [11]

Fare reduction of 2010

In 2010, the PTC granted an overall 2.5% reduction in bus and train fares which took effect on 3 July 2010 together with the introduction of distance fares.[12]

Fare hike of 2014

On 6 April 2014, fares were raised by 3.2%. The typical fares were increased by 4-6 cents and student fares were increased by 2 cents. New concession schemes were implemented.

Fare reduction of 2015

In 2015, the PTC granted an overall 1.9% reduction in bus and train fares which took effect on 27 December 2015.

Fare reduction of 2016

In 2016, the PTC granted an overall 4.2% reduction in bus and train fares which took effect on 30 December 2016.

Fare adjustment of 2017

PTC announced the scrapping of free MRT rides for those exiting 18 city area stations before 7.45am on weekdays excluding public holidays. Instead, discounted fares of up to 50 cents will be given to pre-peak travellers which took effect on 29 December 2017.[13]

Also, $40 Off-Peak Pass monthly concession which offers unlimited travel outside of the weekday peak periods on the bus and train networks for senior citizens will ceased. Senior citizens are being persuaded to buy the $60 Senior Citizen Monthly Concession Pass which includes peak hour travel.[14]

Fare hike of 2018

In 2018, fares were raised by 4.3%.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ptc.gov.sg/about/organisationalStructure.htm
  2. ↑ http://m.todayonline.com/singapore/old-system-penalties-and-fines-led-adversarial-relationship-between-regulator-and-operator
  3. ↑ http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2002/yax-292.htm]
  4. ↑ http://tnp.sg/speakup/story/0,4136,96442,00.html]
  5. ↑ http://www.wp.org.sg/party/manifesto_2006.htm
  6. ↑ "1 to 3 Cents Increase in Bus and Train Fares from October" (PDF). Public Transport Council. 12 September 2006.
  7. ↑ http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=7532758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:e1adbffb763de010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcIOID:1934bffb763de010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcDate:1163282340000 "Is the PTC's survey representative enough?"
  8. ↑ http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=7532758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:7a88a2ca4dcee010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD
  9. ↑ http://www.ptc.gov.sg/news17.pdf
  10. ↑ http://www.ptc.gov.sg/FactsAndFigures/chronologyOfFareAdjustments.htm
  11. ↑ "4.6% Reduction In Bus & Train Fares From 1 APRIL 2009" (PDF). SBS Transit. 21 Feb 2009.
  12. ↑ "2.5% FARE REDUCTION IN BUS & TRAIN FARES AND INTRODUCTION OF DISTANCE FARES ON 3 JULY 2010" (PDF). Public Transport Council, Ministry of Transport. 20 April 2010.
  13. ↑ https://sg.news.yahoo.com/early-morning-rail-fares-lowered-free-pre-peak-travel-cease-public-transport-council-104433345.html
  14. ↑ http://www.theindependent.sg/do-you-agree-that-the-ptcs-reply-to-the-cancellation-of-seniors-off-peak-passes-is-illogical/
  15. ↑ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/public-transport-operators-may-increase-fares-by-up-to-4-3-10680038
  16. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/bus-and-train-fares-set-to-rise-by-not-more-than-10-cents-per-journey-in-latest
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