Affordable fares key to RTS link’s success

She said buses currently cost about S$3.50 (RM11.18) to S$5 (RM15.97), while the KTM Shuttle Tebrau fare is RM10.

Although the RTS would offer greater comfort and shorter ­travel times, higher fares could limit its appeal mainly to professionals and business travellers, she said.

“Lower-income and semi-skilled workers may continue to choose buses or private vehicles if the RTS fare is significantly higher,” she said.

She proposed a hybrid cost-recovery model, with fares covering about 65% to 75% of operating costs and the remaining 25% to 35% supported through government subsidies from Malaysia and Singapore.

Safizahanin said an initial basic fare of around S$3.50 to S$4, coupled with monthly passes and other fare structures, could help the RTS achieve a higher load factor and stabilise its financial ­operations as ­passenger ­numbers grow.

She warned that significantly higher fares could result in a much smaller modal shift, with only 150,000 to 180,000 daily users compared with the 300,000-user target.

This could reduce the RTS’ impact on Causeway congestion, with the reduction in vehicles estimated at only 10% to 15%, compared with 40% to 50% under an optimal fare structure.

Meanwhile, state public works, transport, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said discussions on the RTS fare structure did not currently involve the Johor government.

“I only hope that the fare will be reasonable so that it becomes a choice for daily users,” he said.