Oral Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan to Parliamentary Question on Off-Peak Monthly Travel Pass

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     what has been the take-up rate for the Off-peak Monthly Travel Pass for persons with disabilities and senior citizens;

b.     why was it discontinued without prior notice; and 

c.     whether there are plans to provide cheaper off-peak or weekend travel options to encourage senior citizens to stay active. 

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     what is the reason for scrapping the $40 monthly unlimited off-peak travel pass for senior citizens; 

b.     how many seniors are affected by the scrapping of the pass; and 

c.     what percentage of seniors have switched to buying the $60 Senior Citizen Monthly Concession Pass.

Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan:

1.     Today, senior citizens and persons with disabilities enjoy concessionary fares that are 25% off adult card fares at all times, while regular commuters among this group can also buy the monthly concession pass at half the price of the regular adult monthly pass.

2.     The off-peak pass was introduced in July 2015 as a trial to encourage regular commuters to shift from peak to off-peak travel. However, it has shifted less than 200 of the pass users to off-peak travel. As the scheme has not been effective, PTC recommended discontinuing it starting this year. Instead, commuters can enjoy a fare discount of up to 50 cents throughout the rail network if they tap in before 7:45am. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities enjoy this discount on top of their regular 25% discounts. The new scheme was launched with wide publicity. PTC, LTA and the public transport operators have placed posters at all MRT stations and buses since mid-December 2017. More than half of the senior citizen and persons with disabilities off-peak pass users purchased the monthly concession pass in January 2018.