Trials planned for on-demand bus services

Commuters at a bus stop. PHOTO: ST FILE

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) yesterday called a tender for industry proposals to conduct trials of "on-demand, dynamically routed" bus services.

These trials - which are expected to begin in the second half of next year - will allow commuters in selected parts of the island to use a mobile app to request public buses to pick them up and drop them off at any bus stop within a defined area, instead of sticking to a pre-determined route.

The LTA hopes to assess how such bus services - which respond to real-time commuter demand - can optimise deployment of buses and their drivers, as well as lower operating costs in areas and time periods with low ridership.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 16, 2017, with the headline Trials planned for on-demand bus services. Subscribe