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Land Transport Authority

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Land Transport Authority

Kampung Java Entrance to Land Transport Authority (LTA) headquarters
Agency overview
Formed1 September 1995; 29 years ago (1995-09-01)[1]
Preceding agencies
  • Registry of Vehicles[1]
  • Mass Rapid Transit Corporation[1]
  • Roads & Transportation Division of the Public Works Department[1]
  • Land Transportation Division of the Ministry of Communications[1]
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters1 Hampshire Road, Singapore 219428
Agency executives
Parent agencyMinistry of Transport
Websitewww.lta.gov.sg
Agency IDT08GB0027D
The Land Transport Authority's headquarters at the former Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital.
The LTA Gallery is located at the LTA office at Hampshire Road

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore.

History

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Incorporation

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The Land Transport Authority (LTA) was established on 1 September 1995 and was formed by the merger of various public sector entities: the Registry of Vehicles, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Roads & Transportation Division of the Public Works Department and Land Transportation Division of the former Ministry of Communications.[1]

1996 Land Transport White Paper

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On 2 January 1996, the Land Transport Authority published the 1996 Land Transport White Paper, titled "A World Class Land Transport System". It outlined the government plans. Changes to existing schemes were proposed along with schemes were introduced across various transport sectors. This included the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) scheme, which eventually become ubiquitous in the city state.

1996 Rail Financing Framework

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The 1996 Rail Financing Framework was a scheme that set out the financing framework of the rail transport system. In the white paper, it was phrased that the financing framework of the rail transport system would eventually be run on the basis of partnership, which the government and its regulatory authority would provide the assets and infrastructure (which remain fully owned by the regulatory authority), with commuters paying for the operating costs and operators extracting efficiency dividends within standards and fares set by the regulatory authority.[3]

The framework allowed for an open up of the rail transport market with the operation aspects of the industry no longer tied to the authorities, allowing for more autonomy of the incumbent operator and new operators to enter the market. This also laid the foundation for the restructure and flotation of SMRT Corporation, previously a state-owned incumbent operator under the name Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, in 2000.[3]

The framework was revised in 2008 as the New Rail Financing Framework (NRFF), which saw the regulatory authority re-assuming the full ownership of all rail assets, where the ownership and maintenance of which were previously held responsible under the individual operators.[4][5][6]

Changes to public transport

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To meet with the increasing number of commuters in Singapore, Land Transport Authority exercises on new changes over time.

Rail

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LTA is responsible for the development of the rapid transit system and the expansion of the rail network. It aims to double the rail network by 2030. Since 2008, LTA has increased the length of Singapore's rail network from 138 km to about 180 km with the opening of the Boon Lay Extension in 2009, the Circle Line from 2009 to 2011 and the Circle Line Extension in 2012. Downtown Line, Thomson–East Coast Line are underway towards completion, with Cross Island Line and Jurong Region Line under construction.

Half-height platform screen doors were installed in all 36 elevated stations in 2012 for the safety of passengers and to reduce delays in train service from track intrusions.[7] HVLS fans are also installed at all elevated stations starting from 1 June 2012 and ending on 6 January 2013.

Bus

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LTA took on the role of central bus network planner from 2009, working with communities and the bus operators, SBS Transit and SMRT Buses, to identify areas for bus improvements and to shift the focus to placing the commuter at the centre and taking a holistic approach in planning the bus network, taking into consideration development in the Rapid Transit System (RTS) network and other transport infrastructure. It is meant for their feedbacks, and any changes will be under the monthly updates, this has been brought through Bus Services Enhancement Programme. Under BSEP, about 80 new services are being introduced and 1,000 buses are being added over five years.[8]

Quality of Service (QoS) standards have also been tightened to reduce waiting time and reduce crowding. Now, those with increased loads run every 10 minutes or less during weekday peak hours in 2015. Feeder bus services have become more frequent too, with 95% of bus services now running at intervals of 10 minutes or less during the weekday peak periods, tightened from 85%.[9]

Announced in 2014, the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) which took effect on 1 September 2016, saw LTA assuming the full ownership of all bus assets in Singapore.[10]

Road projects

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Investment in road projects ensures that the economy will be ably supported with a strong and ever-improving transport infrastructure and coordinated system. One such project is the introduction of the Parking Guidance System (PGS)[11] in the city[12] and HarbourFront area[13] to guide drivers to the nearest parking facility with available parking spaces, reducing the need for vehicles to cruise around to find empty parking spaces.

As part of investment in road projects, LTA will also be expanding the EMAS signages and upgrading the oldest EMAS signages in the expressways.[14]

To improve road safety, LTA implemented a variety of road engineering measures, such as adding pedestrian crossing lines with enhanced dash markings, traffic calming markings and "pedestrian crossing ahead" road markings in more locations in 2009. "Your Speed Signs", electronic signs displaying the speed of a passing vehicle, were also introduced so that motorists could be more aware of their speeds and would be more likely to keep to the speed limit. Road studs which flash in tandem with the green man signal at traffic junctions were also installed at more locations to alert motorists to stop for crossing pedestrians.[15]

LTA is not responsible for reminding vehicle owners to scan their Autopass card when exiting Singapore.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Our History". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ^ "LTA to get new chief executive, leadership changes at JTC and SLA announced". CNA. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b Fwa Tien Fang (2016). 50 Years Of Transportation In Singapore: Achievements And Challenges - World Scientific Series On Singapore's 50 Years Of Nation-building. Singapore: World Scientific. pp. 112–117. ISBN 9789814651615.
  4. ^ hermesauto (15 July 2016). "New rail financing framework: 9 things to know about agreement between SMRT and Govt". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  5. ^ "6 things you need to know about the New Rail Financing Framework". Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  6. ^ "SMRT Trains and SMRT Light Rail to Transit to New Rail Financing Framework | Press Room | Land Transport Authority". www.lta.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  7. ^ "LTA Completes Installation of Half Height Platform Screen Doors". Land Transport Authority. 14 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Bus Service Enhancement Programme". Land Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Quality of Service (QoS) Standards for Basic Bus Services". Public Transport Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  10. ^ "LTA | Bus Contracting Model". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "LTA Launches Parking Guidance System in Marina Centre to Help Motorists Make Informed Decision on Parking Spaces". Land Transport Authority. 24 March 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Parking Guidance System Extended To Orchard Area". Land Transport Authority. 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  13. ^ "Parking Guidance System For HarbourFront Area". Land Transport Authority. 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  14. ^ "Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS)". One.Motoring. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  15. ^ "Your Speed Sign (YSS)". One.Motoring. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  16. ^ "Malaysians Hit with RM10K Fine in Singapore by LTA Due to 'System Error,' Allegedly Claiming They Never Departed Since August". The Paper Break. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
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