Plans to purpose SimplyGo for motoring payments in progress
06 Feb 2024|2,242 views
Plans are in the pipeline to also purpose the SimplyGo account-based ticketing platform for motoring payments, in addition to uses for public transport and retail, newly minted Transport Minister, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, told the Parliament yesterday.
This will bring SimplyGo EZ-Link cards on par with the existing cards that run on the legacy card-based ticketing system. For years, the latter has allowed cardholders to pay for purchases across retail, public transportation, and motoring.
However, Mr. Chee emphasised that time is needed to find solutions to this. He also explained that this was why the operations of the card-based ticketing system - which was due to expire - had to be extended for another six years until at least 2030. This will cost the government $40 million in spending.
To address ground concerns, LTA will make available more card readers at MRT stations and bus interchanges as an interim measure. This will allow commuters to check their card balances if they do not use the SimplyGo mobile app.
However, there are no details yet on when this would take place.
In the same parliamentary debate yesterday, Mr. Chee said a separate card-based ticketing system for concession cards will additionally be extended until at least 2030. This move comes in response to feedback from seniors who use concession cards to pay for their public transport rides.
Workers' Party (WP) MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) asked if the LTA could channel the $40 million to iron out the usability issues of SimplyGo so that the transition timeline could be shortened to just one year instead of the now quoted six years.
Another question was posed by Mr. Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) - also from WP - on whether the improvements included plans for SimplyGo to become a "universal card". Mr. Chua also wanted to know if the upgraded SimplyGo could be used in the on-board units for the next-generation Electronic Road Pricing system.
Mr. Chee said he was not confident the authorities could find answers to these questions within a year. He added that it would be "prudent" for them to plan for the hardware and necessary equipment put in place to "run for at least a few years, until at least 2030".
"That will give us time to explore possible solutions with industry experts and other government agencies."
The government will bear the cost of rolling out SimplyGo and the card-based systems for adults and concession cardholders. As such, this will not affect public transport fares. LTA is also finding ways to integrate both systems over time without affecting passengers.
In reported statistics, about 9,000 public transport users converted their existing cards to ones that are compatible with SimplyGo, between 23 and 31 January. By end-January, 69% of public transport users had on-boarded the SimplyGo platform, with 44% using their bank cards and mobile wallets. The remaining 25% use SimplyGo stored-value cards.
This is a slight increase from the figures collected in December 2023, where 64% of adult commuters were on SimplyGo. Of these, 41% used bank cards and mobile wallets, and 23% used SimplyGo EZ-Link cards to pay for their rides.
Plans are in the pipeline to also purpose the SimplyGo account-based ticketing platform for motoring payments, in addition to uses for public transport and retail, newly minted Transport Minister, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, told the Parliament yesterday.
This will bring SimplyGo EZ-Link cards on par with the existing cards that run on the legacy card-based ticketing system. For years, the latter has allowed cardholders to pay for purchases across retail, public transportation, and motoring.
However, Mr. Chee emphasised that time is needed to find solutions to this. He also explained that this was why the operations of the card-based ticketing system - which was due to expire - had to be extended for another six years until at least 2030. This will cost the government $40 million in spending.
To address ground concerns, LTA will make available more card readers at MRT stations and bus interchanges as an interim measure. This will allow commuters to check their card balances if they do not use the SimplyGo mobile app.
However, there are no details yet on when this would take place.
In the same parliamentary debate yesterday, Mr. Chee said a separate card-based ticketing system for concession cards will additionally be extended until at least 2030. This move comes in response to feedback from seniors who use concession cards to pay for their public transport rides.
Workers' Party (WP) MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) asked if the LTA could channel the $40 million to iron out the usability issues of SimplyGo so that the transition timeline could be shortened to just one year instead of the now quoted six years.
Another question was posed by Mr. Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) - also from WP - on whether the improvements included plans for SimplyGo to become a "universal card". Mr. Chua also wanted to know if the upgraded SimplyGo could be used in the on-board units for the next-generation Electronic Road Pricing system.
Mr. Chee said he was not confident the authorities could find answers to these questions within a year. He added that it would be "prudent" for them to plan for the hardware and necessary equipment put in place to "run for at least a few years, until at least 2030".
"That will give us time to explore possible solutions with industry experts and other government agencies."
The government will bear the cost of rolling out SimplyGo and the card-based systems for adults and concession cardholders. As such, this will not affect public transport fares. LTA is also finding ways to integrate both systems over time without affecting passengers.
In reported statistics, about 9,000 public transport users converted their existing cards to ones that are compatible with SimplyGo, between 23 and 31 January. By end-January, 69% of public transport users had on-boarded the SimplyGo platform, with 44% using their bank cards and mobile wallets. The remaining 25% use SimplyGo stored-value cards.
This is a slight increase from the figures collected in December 2023, where 64% of adult commuters were on SimplyGo. Of these, 41% used bank cards and mobile wallets, and 23% used SimplyGo EZ-Link cards to pay for their rides.
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