Mr Chee added that the card-based ticketing (CBT) system for adult commuters will be in place until at least 2030.
LTA noted on January 9 that around two-thirds of adult public transport fares are currently paid through SimplyGo EZ-Link cards or bank cards, and will prioritize SimplyGo from June 1. It announced plans to phase out the old ticketing system.
Rewards cardholders did not need to change.
The old CBT system allows commuters to check fare deductions and card balances at the ticket gate or bus card reader. Currently, you cannot do this using SimplyGo cards.
We apologize to commuters who have experienced delays trying to convert their existing EZ-Link cards.This could have been avoided with better preparation
Days after the announcement, LTA said it was “technically possible” to display such information at station ticket gates and bus readers, but it would slow commuters’ entry and exit.
On Monday, authorities reversed their decision to phase out the old ticketing system.
“On behalf of the MOT (Ministry of Transport) and LTA, we apologize for the delay caused to commuters as they tried to switch their existing EZ-Link cards. It could have been avoided,” Chee said in a Facebook post on Monday.
The decision not to scrap the CBT system for adult commuters will see an estimated S$40 million (US$30 million) spent to ensure commuters can continue to use EZ-Link and NETS FlashPay cards.
On Friday, Mr Chee said S$40 million was needed to buy new hardware and maintain and operate the old ticketing system.
He said the existing CBT system for adults was reaching the end of its validity period this year and the LTA needed to decide whether to continue with it.
“This is a cost that LTA wanted to avoid incurring by abolishing the CBT system for adult commuters.
“However, we realized that this did not match what many commuters wanted. This did not match the feedback we received from many commuters. We realized that this ( “We have decided not to proceed with the decision (to abolish the CBT system),” Mr Chee said.
He said the S$40 million “is not included in public transport fares”, adding that the entire amount would be borne by the government.
This means there are three systems: the account-based ticketing system SimplyGo, the CBT system for adults, and the CBT system for reward cardholders.
Mr Chee said the government would consider whether it was possible to “phased integration” of the two CBT systems over time.
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The Minister also ordered LTA to improve the functionality of SimplyGo.
“This is something we want to do because we think it’s important to offer this to commuters who want to be able to deduct their fare or check their card balance at the turnstiles or bus card reader.”
“At the moment there is no technical solution to this, either domestically or internationally. The worry is that if we do this and it causes significant delays, it will create long queues and slow the flow of commuters.” he said.
He added that authorities “will decide later” whether to extend the CBT scheme beyond 2030.
The key will be whether a solution can be found to overcome the technical difficulties of displaying fare deduction and card balance information at station ticket gates and bus card readers.
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After LTA’s announcement earlier this month, some commuters questioned the consultation process.
Mr Chee said the government agency conducted a series of consultations with various commuter groups from 2020 to 2023. This included focus group discussions and testing with more than 1,000 commuters.
LTA decided not to migrate discount cardholders to the SimplyGo system as it said some seniors were not familiar with the new system and preferred to check their fares on a card reader.
The Transport Minister said: “Had we consulted more widely and gathered views from a wider group of commuters before the decision and announcement on 9 January, we would have encountered stronger reactions and preferences expressed by some commuters. Probably.” This means we want to maintain the current ability to check fare reductions and card balances at ticket gates and bus card readers.
“We understand where commuters are coming from. We respect their preferences. We understand that they are familiar with this feature, are used to it, and find it useful. .”
In response to a question about the appropriate number of respondents for such a survey, Mr Chee said it “would have been beneficial” for authorities to consult more widely and hear a wider range of opinions and concerns before making a decision. Stated.
“This is a consequential issue. I hope we can learn from it and do better in the future,” he added.