Extended Full-Day Bus Lane Operating Hours
Trial for Bus Priority Box along Orchard Road
With effect from 21 March 2016, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will extend the operating hours of full-day bus lanes. Separately, LTA will also implement the Bus Priority Box, also known as the Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme, at two bus stops along Orchard Road, as part of a six-month trial to evaluate its usefulness at bus stops without bus bays.
2. LTA’s Chief Executive, Mr Chew Men Leong said: “Over the years, we introduced several bus priority measures which have improved bus speed and reliability significantly to benefit many commuters. We have been monitoring bus corridors closely to see if more can be done. The latest round of adjustments is part of LTA’s efforts to further improve bus reliability and shorten journey time for commuters, especially for bus services plying the city area.”
Extension of Full-Day Bus Lane Operating Hours
3. Currently, there are 23 km of full-day bus lanes which operate from 7.30 am to 8.00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, excluding public holidays. These are located mainly in the city centre.
4. From 21 March 2016, the operating hours of all full-day bus lanes will be extended by three hours, to end at 11.00 pm[1]. This will help shorten travel time for bus commuters during the late evening periods.
5. Please refer to Annex A for the locations of the full-day bus lanes. For more information on how the bus lane scheme works, please refer to (https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/who_we_are/our_work/public_transport_system/bus/bus_priority_schemes.html)
Bus Priority Box Trial along Orchard Road
6. There are currently 332 bus stops with Bus Priority Boxes (also known as the Mandatory Give Way to Buses scheme) since it was first introduced in 2008. The Bus Priority Box scheme mandates motorists to give way to buses exiting bus stops[2].
7. To further improve the headway of buses in the city area, LTA will introduce the Bus Priority Box at the following bus stops without bus bays[3] along Orchard Road as part of a six-month trial:
• Opposite Mandarin Orchard (bus stop number 09037)
• Midpoint Orchard (bus stop number 09038)
8. LTA will use the findings of this six-month trial to determine if the scheme should be applied for similar bus stops in other locations.
9. Please refer to Annex B for illustration of how the Bus Priority Box works. For more information on the scheme, please refer to https://onemotoring.lta.gov.sg/content/onemotoring/home/driving/road_safety_and_vehicle_rules/driving-rules.html
[1] The composition amount for any motorist who drives on bus lanes during restricted hours is $130. If the offence is not compounded, the case may be escalated to the courts. The motorist shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months for the first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months for the second or subsequent offences.
[2] The composition amount for any motorist who does not give way to buses exiting bus stops with the Bus Priority Box is $130. If the offence is not compounded, the case may be escalated to the courts. The motorist shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months for the first offence, and to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months for the second or subsequent offences.
[3] Except for two bus stops along the Tampines Expressway (west bound) which do not have bus bays, the Bus Priority Box has thus far only been implemented at bus stops with bus bays.
