LTA studying feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit system for Tuas South

SINGAPORE – A new mode of public transport – Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – is under study as part of efforts to boost connectivity in Tuas South, said Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow.

Speaking at the Singapore Rail Test Centre on July 31, he said the BRT will likely take the shape of high-capacity buses or trackless trams that run on dedicated lanes with priority at traffic junctions and stations designed for quick boarding and alighting.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this would provide workers with faster and more reliable connections between their workplaces and existing and future MRT stations.

Tuas South was selected for the study as it is home to major developments such as Tuas Port and is expected to see further growth. As more businesses and jobs are added, commuter numbers and travel demand are expected to rise, LTA said.

LTA said the BRT could complement the MRT and conventional buses by providing a medium-capacity transport option.

Operating on dedicated lanes with traffic signal priority, BRT vehicles can travel faster and more reliably than conventional buses while carrying more passengers, particularly during peak periods.

Compared with MRT and LRT systems, BRT requires less dedicated infrastructure and offers greater flexibility to adjust routes, making it a potentially cost-effective and scalable solution for medium-density corridors such as Tuas South, LTA said.

The prospect of a BRT system in Singapore was floated in the 2008 Land Transport Masterplan. The blueprint stated that the LTA would study the merits of such a system, noting that it combines the reliability of rapid transit systems with the flexibility offered by buses. As it would remove one lane permanently for other vehicles, the overall traffic impact has to be carefully studied, the plan stated.

BRT systems generally fall into two categories: conventional BRT and tram-like BRT.

Conventional systems use buses ranging from single buses to articulated (two-section) and bi-articulated (three-section) vehicles. Tram-like systems use longer vehicles, sometimes with driver’s cabins at both ends, and may incorporate virtual guidance and automation.

Both types of BRT systems typically operate on dedicated lanes with traffic signal priority. They may also feature fare payment at stations as well as platforms that are flush with the level of the vehicle, to speed up boarding and reduce the time spent at a station.

LTA will evaluate the range of BRT options for Tuas South, including their costs and benefits, and assess whether the system is suitable for long-term implementation. More details will be announced when available, it said.

Siow said transport connectivity in Tuas today depends mainly on the East-West Line. From Boon Lay station, it takes about 30 minutes by vehicle to reach industrial estates in Tuas South, and even longer to get to Tuas Port or Jurong Island.

Connectivity improved with the extension of the East-West Line to Tuas West, and will improve further when the Cross Island Line and Jurong Region Line open, he added.

But more can be done to boost connectivity to Tuas South, he said, given the area’s growing industrial base and the progressive opening of Tuas Port.

Siow said the authorities will give an update on the BRT study “probably by next year”.

“If feasible in Tuas, Bus Rapid Transit systems can be a promising and cost-effective mode of transport for the rest of Singapore, sitting in between buses and trains,” he said.