S'pore exploring new Bus Rapid Transit System for better connectivity in Tuas South: LTA

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is studying the possibility of introducing a new form of public transport, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System in Tuas South, in a bid to improve the area's connectivity.

With a medium capacity that is higher than a regular bus and greater flexibility than the MRT or LRT, the BRT will be used to provide workers with faster connections to and from existing and future MRT stations.

Improving connectivity

The plan was announced by Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow at the launch of Phase Three of the Cross Island Line's (CRL) construction on Jul. 31.

The connectivity of the Tuas area currently depends mainly on the existing East-West Line, he said.

While the situation has been improved with the extension of the EWL, as well as the upcoming CRL and Jurong Region Line, Siow said that it is not uncommon for candidates applying for jobs in Tuas Port to miss their job interviews out of inconvenience of getting there.

"As technology improves, I think more options will open up."

What's the BRT System?

The BRT System, currently already implemented in a number of cities like Shanghai, Seoul and Istanbul, is a cost-effective option being explored to solve this problem.

They can be articulated high-capacity buses or track-less trams that travel on dedicated lanes with priority at traffic junctions.

BRT stations are optimised for quick boarding and alighting through off-board fare collection at stations and platform-level boarding.

Traditionally, systems in this capacity require dedicated infrastructure involving rails, power and signalling, though many major cities are now able to do without them, Siow pointed out.

Conventional BRTs, such as those in Shanghai and Seoul, utilise buses of varying lengths.

These can be single, or two or three-sectioned.

Tram-like BRTs, on the other hand, are an evolved concept that use longer, tram-like vehicles with driver's cabins at both ends.

They also use auto-assisted driving via virtual guidance and have wider, multiple doors to enable faster boarding and alighting than a conventional articulated bus design.

LTA is evaluating the range of BRT options for Tuas South, the statutory board said.