Assessment of Effectiveness of 2019 Smart Bus Priority System Trial

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question 

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Acting Minister for Transport 

a.      what is the Ministry’s assessment of the effectiveness of the 2019 Smart Bus Priority System trial in ensuring bus punctuality; and

b.      whether the Ministry intends to scale up and deploy the System on bus services island wide.

Reply by Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow: 

1.     The Smart Bus Priority System trial was carried out over a period of 6 months on bus services 98 and 99 along Jurong East Avenue 1 and Jurong West Avenue 1. The system aimed to adjust traffic light timings to help buses running behind schedule to catch up. While the trial showed that such a system was technically feasible, it did not substantially improve the punctuality of these bus services. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) therefore has no plans to scale up this solution.

2.      With better technology and data, LTA will continue to explore other ways to provide bus priority and improve travel time.