SINGAPORE – In a move to ease congestion during the morning rush hour, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat has announced an exciting revamp of the Travel Smart Journeys scheme. Starting early January 2025, this initiative will enable commuters in north-east Singapore to enjoy fare discounts of up to 80% when they change their travel schedules to avoid peak hours.
The New Perks of the Scheme
- Fare discounts of up to 80% for journeys starting from Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, and Hougang MRT stations.
- Current MRT riders benefit from a 50-cent discount if they start their journeys before 7:45 am.
- Incentives for North-East Line (NEL) commuters switching to buses will still apply.
Mr Chee shared that the scheme aims to distribute passenger load throughout the day, making for a more comfortable journey for everyone. “It’s a win-win outcome for everyone, so we want to share some of the cost savings with our commuters,” he stated.
Expanding the Scope
Previously, the Travel Smart Journeys programme offered discounts for commuters who switched from the MRT to designated buses. Now, this upgrade will introduce more bus services to the mix:
- Four new City Direct bus services—Nos. 675, 676, 677, and 678—will start operations from 2 January 2025, targeting trips to the Central Business District.
- Bus service 967 will enhance connectivity in Woodlands from 12 January 2025, while Bus 230, serving Toa Payoh East, will be extended by February.
This expansion is part of the $900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, which has already improved 29 existing bus services in the past months.
A Promising Future for Public Transport
Transportation infrastructure continues to evolve with Changi Airport’s passenger traffic forecasted to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2025. With a staggering 61.2 million passengers handled from January to November this year, the airport is poised for continued growth.
Mr Chee also highlighted other ongoing enhancements. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is dedicated to ensuring walking and cycling infrastructure is improved with an allocated budget of $1 billion over the next decade. One notable project includes converting a staircase at Braddell MRT station into a down-riding escalator for better accessibility.
Monitoring Progress
While excited about these developments, Mr Chee admitted there’s still much to monitor. As new bus routes and fare schemes roll out, the LTA will assess their effectiveness approximately six months after implementation.
In this era of transformation, Singapore’s public transport is indeed on the fast track to becoming a more efficient and commuter-friendly system.