LTA calls for tenders for third bus package in Seletar

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has put up the third bus package in Seletar for tender.

The Seletar bus package comprises 24 existing services and two new services which will be announced closer to the commencement date. The bus services will be operated from Ang Mo Kio, Yio Chu Kang and Yishun Bus Interchanges, and will be supported by the new Seletar Bus Depot located off Yio Chu Kang Road, which is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2017.

It consists of about 420 buses, growing to about 500 buses in 2023, in tandem with new developments and projected growth in ridership.

In addition to operating the bus services, the successful tenderer will operate, manage, and maintain Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange, Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange, and Seletar Bus Depot. The bus services will be operated by the successful tenderer for a service term of five years with the possibility of a two-year extension for good performance.

Both local and foreign bus operators may bid for the right to operate the Seletar package. All tender submissions will be evaluated through a two-envelope process for quality and price with more weightage given to the quality proposals submitted by the tenderers.

To ensure a smooth transition, the implementation of the bus services in the Seletar bus package will be carried out in two tranches from the first half of 2018 to allow sufficient time for the operator to build up its resources, such as recruitment and training of bus captains and technicians.