Building a Sustainable Transportation: What SMRT and LTA Are Doing

 Urban transport systems often involve significant environmental effects that are harmful on various scales. Transport is one of the primary contributors to emissions, noise pollution, and climate change. Some of the ways to reduce the environmental impact of transport systems involve increasing the supply of public transport networks, encouraging the use of public transit through incentives, designing new transit routes that are more sustainable, and upgrading old ones.

Singapore has been held up as an exemplar of a sustainable urban transport system. To tackle growing transport demands and changing consumer preferences, Singapore is growing its urban transport system in a sustainable manner. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) spearheads land transport developments in Singapore. In the last few years, LTA has launched several initiatives to integrate a greener and more inclusive public transport system complemented by walks and cycle options. LTA is working with public transport operators like SMRT Corporation to make Singapore’s transport network sustainable. Here are the details:

 

1. LTA announced its Singapore Green Plan 2030 which aims to push electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Singapore will achieve its vision of 100% cleaner energy vehicles by 2040. 

2. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network will be increased to 360km in the coming years. More than 160km of expressways and 120 km of cycling paths have been constructed by LTA to provide more travel options to people.

3. Singapore has introduced EV financial incentives to private owners and businesses. LTA has announced that all new car registrations will have to be of cleaner-energy models from 2030. LTA will stop new diesel car registrations from 2025.

4. To achieve the overarching vision for a reliable, people-centred, and sustainable land transport system by 2030, LTA is undertaking numerous projects to better connect people and places. By building new rail lines and enhancing existing ones, LTA is improving transport infrastructure to support more ways of getting around, as well as reducing the usage of personal vehicles. 

5. The government and LTA aim to deploy 60,000 EV charging points across Singapore by 2030, of which 40,000 will be in public car parks and the other 20,000 in private premises.

6. SMRT Corp has decided to change its entire fleet of taxis to electric taxis by 2026. The first batch of 300 electric taxi vehicles was launched by SMRT on the roads in August 2021.

7. SMRT’s Strides Transportation and SP Group have signed an agreement to launch Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) in Singapore. The group will offer EV drivers and corporate customers access to high-speed chargers around Singapore. 


 Commenting on the sustainability efforts, Seah Moon Ming, SMRT Chairman, said: “As a responsible steward of the environment, we continue to strengthen our green mobility capabilities to bring value to all our stakeholders and support the Government’s vision of a car-lite nation.”

 

SMRT Chairman further added: “We have tied up with China’s biggest commercial EV digital platform, DST Electric Vehicle Rental (Shenzhen) to provide EV services in Singapore and the region. We aim to make a complete switch to EV taxis in the next five years. This is only the beginning of our efforts towards helping Singapore realise its bold and inspiring vision.”

 

Conclusion

Singapore’s regulations on private car ownership, growing EV infrastructure, and the expansion of the land transit system have formed centrifugal forces to encourage commuters to shift to environment-friendly modes of transport. The sustainability efforts taken by LTA and SMRT will result in decreasing car usage and increasing role of the public transit, thereby reducing carbon emissions and pollution.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Efficient and Sustainable: How SMRT Corporation Supports Singapore’s Public Transportation Vision

  As a bustling city-state with a reputation for efficiency and sustainability, Singapore relies on a robust public transportation system to keep its residents and visitors moving seamlessly. At the forefront of this endeavour is SMRT Corporation, helmed by SMRT Chairman , Seah Moon Ming, and SMRT CEO, Ngien Hoon Ping. In this blog, we will explore how SMRT Corporation plays a pivotal role in supporting Singapore's public transportation network, ensuring efficient and sustainable mobility for all. SMRT Corporation: Driving Singapore's Public Transportation SMRT Corporation is a prominent player in Singapore's public transportation landscape. SMRT Chairman mentioned that as a leading mobility solutions and services provider with close to 40 years of industry experience in operating and maintaining a wide and diverse fleet, SMRT connects customers, drivers, and vehicles to deliver technology-enabled solutions that are safe, reliable, inclusive, and sustainable. SMRT CEO
Read more

A Spotlight on SMRT’s Role in Ensuring Safety and Security on Singapore’s MRT System

  Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system has long been recognised as one of the world’s most efficient and reliable transportation networks. SMRT Corporation, the leading operator of the MRT system, has been a significant contributor to its success. In addition to providing seamless transportation, SMRT prioritises safety and security, implementing a range of measures to safeguard passengers and maintain a secure environment. Let’s explore the crucial role played by SMRT in ensuring the safety and security of Singapore's MRT system. Advanced Technology Systems: To monitor and maintain security within the MRT system, SMRT employs state-of-the-art surveillance technologies. The surveillance systems enable real-time monitoring and recording, aiding in the detection of suspicious activities, preventing crime, and enhancing response capabilities during emergencies. Like SMRT Chairman, Seah Moon Ming mentioned that railways are complex, involving many sub-systems operating
Read more

SMRT’s Sustainability Strategy is Aligned with Singapore Green Plan

  Life in Singapore will get much greener by 2030, with new sustainability initiatives by the government and transport operators to change the way people work, travel, study, and play. The Singapore Green Plan 2030 aims to get the whole nation together as it seeks to transition into a more sustainable future. In order to make Singapore a green city, the government will provide incentives to promote the development and deployment of technologies in solar power, EVs, and specific aspects of green finance.  SMRT Corporation, a leading multi-modal transport operator in Singapore, provides accessible and inclusive train and bus services to cater to the needs of all commuters. Given that the Green Plan is a whole-of-nation effort, SMRT Corp has created sustainable plans to help the government materialise the plan. Here is how the transport operator is aligning its business goals with the Singapore Green Plan 2030:   1. SMRT has set up the SMRT Group Sustainability Bond Framework to suppo
Read more