The Fare Review Mechanism Committee (FRMC) in its report on public transport fares has recommended more concesssions, with two new concession schemes proposed - one for low-income workers and another for people with disabilities - for the government to fund without imposing this as a financial burden on public transport operators (PTOs).
Instead of leaving it to the PTOs to propose concession schemes, the FRMC has recommended a public transport concessions framework with significant enhancements to increase the coverage of the various concession schemes.
FRMC chairman Richard Magnus said that if accepted and implemented, the concessions would "potentially add about half a million new beneficiaries to the current 1.2 million commuters receiving some form of public transport concessions, or about a 40 per cent increase''.
The committee polled about 4,600 households from June to August 2013 on their thoughts about the implementation of various possible concession schemes, including which schemes should be prioritised, as well as their views on how the burden of paying for the costs of more concession schemes should be shared out.
The FRMC report, which was submitted to the Ministry of Transport on Monday and shared with the public on Tuesday, also wants better monitoring of fare affordability and asks the government to consider more resources for the Public Transport Fund to benefit commuters from needy households.
To ensure the public transport system remains financially sustainable, the FRMC has proposed a more responsive fare formula, regular fare adjustments, and the roll-over of the fare adjustment quantum.
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