Public Transport Council

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.

Public Transport Council
Logo of PTC
Agency overview
Formed14 August 1987 (1987-08-14)
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters510 Thomson Road, #12-03, SLF Building, Singapore 298135
Agency executives
  • Richard Magnus[1], Chairman
  • Tan Kim Hong[2], Chief Executive
Parent agencyMinistry of Transport
WebsiteOfficial website

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".[3] It is not known how the PTC is going to maintain service standards without imposing any penalties.

The Council is led by a Chairman, currently Mr Richard Magnus,[4] who was formerly a Board Director of the Land Transport Authority; and currently the Representative of Singapore to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights, Vice-Chairman of UNESCO's International Bioethics Committee and a member of the Public Service Commission.

Criticisms

As the public transport fare regulator, the Council was criticised on various occasions when it approved fare hike proposals from public transport operators.[5] Some of its policies are deemed as pro-operators rather than pro-commuters.[6] 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.[7]

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%.[8] 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.[9][10][11]

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.[12][13]

Fare reduction of 2010

On 20 April 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.[14]

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.[15]

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 ceased. Senior citizens are being persuaded to buy the $60 Senior Citizen Monthly Concession Pass which includes peak hour travel.[16]

Fare hike & adjustment of 2018

In 2018, fares were raised by 4.3% which took effect on 29 December 2018.[17][18] Adult card fares increased by 6 cents. Student, senior citizen, Lower-Wage Workers & Persons With Disabilities card fares increased by 1 cent. Adult cash fares for buses, single trip tickets for trains increased by 10 cents. There is no additional boarding charge when making multiple rail transfers in one journey between two different train stations as long as it is within 15 minutes or by taking a bus trip between two different train stations.[19][20][21]

Fare hike & adjustment of 2019

On 8 October 2019, the Public Transport Council announced a fare increase of 7% on train and bus fares which took effect on 28 December 2019, the highest percentage jump since 1998. The increase is driven by soaring energy costs. Adult card fares increased by 9 cents, with cash fares and single fare tickets increased by 20 cents. Concession fares for students, seniors, low-wage workers and persons with disabilities increased by 4 cents. Monthly concession passes have increased by $1 to $5.50, with adult monthly passes increased by $8. However, polytechnic students are included under student concession fares for the first time, resulting in a fare reduction of up to $1.54.[22]

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-06. Retrieved 2014-10-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Lam, Lydia (19 June 2017). "Tan Kim Hong to be new chief executive of Public Transport Council from July 1". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. "'Old system' of penalties and fines led to adversarial relationship between regulator and operator: Khaw". TODAYonline.
  4. "PTC | Council Member Details". www.ptc.gov.sg. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-06-03. Retrieved 2006-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "1 to 3 Cents Increase in Bus and Train Fares from October" (PDF). Public Transport Council. 12 September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2006.
  9. http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=7532758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:e1adbffb763de010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcIOID:1934bffb763de010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD:STForumArcDate:1163282340000%5B%5D "Is the PTC's survey representative enough?"
  10. http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.c2aef3d65baca16abb31f610a06310a0/?vgnextoid=7532758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=vgnartid:7a88a2ca4dcee010VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD%5B%5D
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-06. Retrieved 2006-11-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-03-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "4.6% Reduction In Bus & Train Fares From 1 APRIL 2009" (PDF). SBS Transit. 21 Feb 2009.
  14. "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  15. "Early morning rail fares to be lowered, free pre-peak travel to cease: Public Transport Council". sg.news.yahoo.com.
  16. "Do you agree that the PTC's reply to the cancellation of seniors' off-peak passes is illogical? – The Independent News".
  17. "Public transport operators may increase fares by up to 4.3%". CNA.
  18. "Bus and train fares set to rise by not more than 10 cents per journey in latest fare review exercise". The Straits Times. September 3, 2018.
  19. "Bus and train fares to rise by 6 cents per trip from Dec 29: PTC". The Straits Times. October 30, 2018.
  20. "Bus, train fares to rise by 6 cents from Dec 29 for adult card users". CNA.
  21. "Bus, train fares to go up by 6 cents from Dec 29 for standard card users". TODAYonline.
  22. Tan, Christopher (8 October 2019). "Bus, train fares to rise by 7% from Dec 28; hike capped at 4 cents per trip for 1 in 2 Singaporeans". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
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