LTA eyes developing bus-hailing app

It is currently seeking industry proposals.

Amidst the boom of car-hailing and bike-sharing apps, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore is eyeing to develop an app that can hail public buses.

LTA called a tender to seek proposals from the industry to trial on-demand, dynamically-routed public bus services.

The trial will enable LTA to evaluate the feasibility of operating public bus services based on real-time commuter demand and along dynamic routes, instead of plying on the basis of pre-determined and fixed timetables and routes. Through a mobile application, commuters will be able to request pick-ups and drop-offs at any bus stop within a defined operating area.

In addition to enhancing the commute, the trial will help LTA assess if such a form of public bus services could optimise resources (buses and bus captains) and operating cost in areas and periods with low ridership.

Three areas have been preliminarily identified as possible for the trial: Joo Koon (for Services 253, 255 and 257), Punggol North/West (for Services 84 and 382) and Shenton Way/Marina South (for Services 400 and 402). These bus services in the identified areas currently have low demand during off-peak hours and can potentially better serve commuters if they are converted into on-demand bus services.

Tender participants are also invited to submit proposals for on-demand, dynamically-routed night bus services, in place of existing night bus services with fixed timetables and routes.