1. The
Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its study and
consultation on new Taxi Availability (TA) indicators and standards
to improve the availability of taxis on the roads, to better serve
commuters. Commuters can expect more taxis on the roads with the
implementation of the TA standards from 1 January
2013.
2. The
study on taxi availability was initiated with the National Taxi
Association (NTA) and the taxi operators to ensure that taxis
better fulfil their public transport role. Given also the
concessions accorded to them1,
it is important that taxis are better utilised and made more
available on the roads to serve commuters, especially during peak
periods. Additionally, there is persistent feedback about the
inadequate availability of taxis.
New Taxi
Availability Standards from 1 January 2013
3.
The TA standards will be applied to individual taxi operators based
on their respective fleet sizes. The standards take into
consideration the taxi industry’s current performance; the need to
ensure that there is adequate taxi supply on the road when demand
is at its peak; and the need also for general taxi availability
throughout the day.
4. The
standards will be phased in progressively over the next three years
to give taxi operators time to adjust. Details are in
Annex A.
5. The
performance of the taxi companies will be measured on a monthly
basis. During the first six months, from January to June
2013, no financial penalty will be imposed on the taxi operators if
they fail to meet the standards. LTA will review this in June
2013.
6. Taxi
operators would need to attain at least 4 out of 6 ‘Passes’ over
the first six months (and second six months) of every year, to
expand their fleet in the corresponding six month period of the
following year. Results for the January 2013 to June 2013 period
will be used to determine if the taxi company can grow its taxi
fleet in the period of January 2014 to June 2014. The growth will
be capped at 2% p.a. (which was earlier announced as being the
unconditional growth rate allowed for the transition period from
August 2012 to December 2013, a growth rate roughly in line with
the historical taxi ridership growth rate).
7. LTA
will monitor the effectiveness of the taxi availability framework
and review it as necessary.
Measures to
Complement Taxi Availability
8.
Following feedback from NTA and taxi drivers, to make it easier for
taxi drivers to pick up and drop off passengers inside the Central
Business District (CBD) where demand for taxis is high, LTA will
further relax the CBD taxi rule2.
From 1 January 2013, taxis will be allowed to pick up/drop off
passengers along all roads within the CBD, except those with bus
lanes during their operation hours3,
and specific roads which are dangerous for all vehicles to stop at
any time such as Finlayson Green, High Street, Orchard Link and
Esplanade Drive. These adjustments will also make it more
convenient for passengers in and going to the CBD, to hail a cab
and to alight near their destination.
9. In addition, LTA
will set up an online portal so that hirers and relief drivers can
exchange information to facilitate matching. The portal will make
it easier for taxi hirers to find relief drivers, and vice versa,
and will also be used to disseminate information relevant to Taxi
Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL)
holders.
10.
Active drivers4
will get a 50% discount on their TDVL renewal fee5
and waiver on certain modules of the mandatory refresher course
(e.g. street directory module). These incentives and the new
portal will be implemented in the first half of 2013.
[1] Taxi companies are accorded
concessions such as lower road taxes for their taxis, and paying
the Category A Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP) for the COEs even if
the taxis are of Category B size.
[2] Currently, under the CBD taxi
rule, from 7.30am to 8pm, Mondays to Saturdays (excluding public
holidays), taxis are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers
only at taxi stands/stops in the CBD; and along side roads in the
CBD.
[3] For CBD roads with bus lanes,
taxis will not be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers along
the road (both on the side of the road with the bus lane, as well
as the opposite side of the road if it is a one-way road) during
the bus lane operation hours. The bus lane operation hours for
normal bus lanes are Mon to Fri (7.30am to 9.30am and 5pm to 8pm,
excluding Public Holidays), and for full day bus lanes – Mon to Sat
(7.30am to 8pm, excluding Public Holidays).
[4] The drivers must show proof
from the taxi companies that he/she has been driving
regularly.
[5] The TDVL renewal fee is $40
every 3 years. With the discount, active TDVL holders need only pay
$20
