Should not assume future public transport fare increases can be ‘frozen without consequences’: MOT

” NOT Noise” WILL Block FUTURE FARES AND nbsp, EXPUNGE DEFERRED FAIRS,

Mr. Chee clarified that the fare formula takes into account” real cost increases” in the economy, such as energy costs and wages, and that it permits fares & nbsp to be adjusted in tandem with these cost drivers rather than changes in operators’ actual costs.

Operators are encouraged to look for ongoing productivity improvements to lower their prices because the formula also includes a” output contribution.”

In the end, the formula prevents operators from” immediately passing on” their costs to commuters while enabling them to profit from the operators’ efficiency savings. & nbsp,

Mr. Chee stated in the House on Tuesday that Mrs. Chua and Wee’s ideas are” not good” because they would harm Singapore and Singaporeans by negatively affecting the public transportation system over the long term and financially. & nbsp,

It does not imply that these expenses of maintaining the public transportation system will just vanish into thin air, he said,” even if the deferred suffer amount is eliminated, as Mr. Louis Chua proposed, or fares are frozen for future years. & nbsp,

” I would like to request Mr. Chua and Mrs. Wee to clarify whether they are proposing for the users to absorb this charge, or for citizens to bear a greater cost hardship in order to provide higher government grants on an ongoing base.” He continued.

” If the latter, they may explain how such a move will be funded annually and whether they are suggesting that Singaporeans pay extra taxes in order to do so.” We must think about how this will affect the public transportation companies’ financial sustainability over time, which will then have an impact on their capacity to offer accessible and dependable public transport services. & nbsp,

Additionally, Mr. Chee noted that the success of bus and rail providers is not very large. & nbsp,

” The government needs to provide about S$ 1 billion in subsidies for buses every year because bus services are generally operating at a loss ,” he said. According to & nbsp,” Expunging the deferred fare or freezing future foe increases will result in greater losses and higher government subsidies.”

SBS Transit reported a loss of several million dollars for their rail operations with rail services, & nbsp, after accounting for government grants in the prior fiscal year, while SMRT Trains reported an operating profit of S$ 6 million, which represents an profit margin of less than 1 %, the author continued. & nbsp,

RESULTING IN AFFORDABILITY & nbsp,

The PTC and government, according to Mr. Chee, are” mindful” that survive rises have different effects on various passenger groups. & nbsp,

According to what the PTC announced in September, grant card fares for students, seniors, low-wage workers, and people with disabilities may be reduced.

Depending on the distance traveled, prices in this class will increase by 4 to 5 cents per trip. Van fare concessionary money fares may go up by 10 cents. & nbsp,

Prices of cross monthly grant passes will be reduced by up to 10 % for large public transportation people who belong to concessionary organizations, such as students, seniors, and full-time National Servicemen. & nbsp,

Similar to seniors, the cost of regular grant passes for those with disabilities may drop from Entropy$ 64 to S$ 58. Lower-wage workers will be able to use a brand-new, S$ 96 hybrid workfare travel grant move.

About 60, 000 current and anticipated fresh monthly pass holders will gain from the change to regular concession moves. Buyers of current hybrid regular passes can save up to S$ 9.50 per quarter.

” The PTC did keep making sure that annual menu changes are reasonable.” Before deciding on the fare increase to be granted for that year, the PTC will evaluate the value increases as reflected by the fares method in each subsequent( suffer review training ), the sum deferred from previous years, and the effect on commuter affordability, according to Mr. Chee.

” And when the chance arises, the PTC will think about whether it is possible to reduce the total amount of deferred menu so that the gap will gradually close.”

The MP said that the current delayed increase and upcoming increase in charges would have a” snowballing effect” in an additional question that Mr. Chua after posed. Finally he suggested” moderating” the level of fare increase rather than eliminating it.

While Mr. Chee acknowledged that they might certainly disagree as much, he did point out that the PTC goes beyond simply adhering to the maximum allowable fare adjustment specified in the ticket.

” They did take accessibility and commuter influence into account. After that, they will make decisions regarding the stage( of fare boost) to set and how much it would change from the highest allowable adjusting, he said.

Mr. Chee also emphasized that postponing fare increases essentially means that the government fills the funding gap, as evidenced by the extra S$ 300 million in grants this year.

It means that S$ 300 million will continue to be used as a permanent payment if we don’t get way to… gradually close this gap in the years to come. Additionally, it will increase the subsidies we now offer, he added.

Therefore, this may put more of a burden on citizens.