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Bus service 992 improved following Leong Mun Wai’s query on headways and crowding

In a written reply to NCMP Hazel Poa on 16 October, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat announced that Bus Service 992, serving Tengah residents, now operates at an average frequency of about 4 minutes during peak hours, marking an improvement from the previous average of 8 minutes. This enhancement follows Leong Mun Wai’s PQ last month on headways and crowding levels for services 180, 992, and 993.

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SINGAPORE: Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat affirmed that as of August 2024, Service 992 operates at an average frequency of about four minutes during peak hours and eight minutes during off-peak hours on weekdays.

This represents an improvement from the average frequencies of eight minutes during peak hours and 14 minutes during off-peak hours for the former Bus Service 944 in August 2023.

Mr Chee was responding to a parliamentary question filed by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Hazel Poa on 16 October.

Ms Poa, Secretary-General of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), had asked the Transport Minister about the average time intervals for feeder Bus Service 944 during peak and non-peak hours in 2023.

She also inquired whether these intervals increased after the service was extended to Tengah New Town and renumbered to Bus Service 992.

In a written reply, Mr Chee explained the rationale behind the service area shift, noting that as residents progressively moved into Tengah, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) improved the frequencies for Service 992 in 2024.

He assured that the LTA would continue to monitor ridership and work with the bus operator to make necessary adjustments.

Service Improvements One Month After Leong Mun Wai Filed PQ on Headways and Crowding

Notably, this improvement followed a question from Ms Poa’s colleague, Mr Leong Mun Wai, who had raised concerns about headways and crowding levels on Bus Services 180, 992, and 993 along Bukit Batok Road during weekday peak hours.

On 10 September, Mr Leong filed a parliamentary question addressing the average observed headways and crowding levels on these bus services.

He also asked about congestion levels on Bukit Batok Road during peak hours and whether additional measures were needed to alleviate congestion on these services.

At that time, Mr Chee explained that under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) standards, bus services should operate at scheduled headways of no more than 15 minutes during peak periods, with at least half of the services having shorter scheduled headways of no more than 10 minutes.

He reported that the average observed headways for Services 180, 992, and 993 were eight minutes, five minutes, and 14 minutes, respectively.

Mr Chee noted that ridership on Services 180 and 992 has increased to over 50% of capacity as residents continue to move into the new Tengah town.

In June and July 2024, additional buses, including double-decker models, were added to these two services to reduce waiting times and increase capacity.

In contrast, Service 993’s loading remains relatively low. The LTA and the bus operators will continue to monitor ridership and make necessary adjustments.

Mr Chee added that ongoing improvement works are being carried out along Bukit Batok Road to enhance traffic flow.

“Vehicles, including buses, are generally able to clear most junctions along Bukit Batok Road in one or two traffic light cycles during peak hours. ”

Tengah Residents Share Mixed Feelings About Bus Service Improvements and Accessibility

Bus Service 992, previously known as Bus Service 944, was extended from Bukit Batok West to serve Tengah in September 2023.

According to local Chinese media 8World News, residents interviewed mentioned that traveling has become quicker; however, some passengers still feel that the bus routes are not convenient enough.

Three months ago, Tengah Bus Interchange began operations. Managed by Tower Transit, the new facility currently serves three bus routes: 870, 871, and 992.

Service 992 has been extended to cover Tengah Garden Walk, Tengah Drive, and Tengah Boulevard before terminating at the new interchange.

A resident told the media that current bus interval is better, a bus comes every five minutes. Previously, they had to wait 15 minutes to half an hour for a bus.”

Another member shared, “We need to take Bus Service 992 to Bukit Batok, but it requires quite a distance—around 15 minutes—because we have to go around Bukit Batok to get there. ”

“A more direct bus to places like Yuhua MRT Station or Lakeside MRT Station would be more convenient.”

Some members of the public pointed out, “Our children attend public school, and taking Bus Service 871 makes it much more convenient to drop them off.”

Others felt, “The bus interchange should be placed in the basement of the MRT station; it’s very inconvenient to disperse, especially for the elderly or those who have difficulty walking.”

Tower Transit said hey are still monitoring the service situation and will make adjustments based on demand.

In a Facebook post on 21 October, Ms Poa said she glad that the media is drawing attention to the public transport needs of Tengah residents.

She assured PSP will continue to speak up on behalf of Tengah residents and their transport needs.

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