PUBLIC transport is driving Ms Jeanne Conceicao to Johor. She is so fed-up with the cost of living and the standard of public transport that even the prospect of a long commute from Johor Baru to work in Singapore seems a better alternative.

Ms Conceicao was cited by Transport Minister Raymond Lim as a commuter who has given up on public transport.

He mentioned her in his speech at the launch of the Land Transport Gallery yesterday to drive home the need to focus on the commuter in improving public transport.

But what's not known is the extent of her disillusionment.

The 42-year-old property agent, who is single, told The New Paper yesterday that she recently bought a house in Leisure Farms Resort, JB. It is about 20 minutes' drive from Tuas Link and cost about $350,000 (RM850,000).

After enduring daily two-hour journeys and spending thousands of dollars on public transport since she started working here 14 years ago, Ms Conceicao decided it was a waste of her time and money.

She switched to cabs and moving to JB has given her reason to buy a car.

'Even more reason I should own a car. It will give me the freedom to move around,' she said. She takes home a yearly income of more than $80,000.

Ms Conceicao intends to live in the Johor house a few days in a week on a trial basis from next year when the house is ready.

'After weighing the cost factor and convenience, I will decide if I move (permanently),' she said.

Her priority now is to get her driver's licence. She recently completed her 14th driving lesson and is due to take the driving exam by June this year.

Will the Transport Ministry's plans to revamp the system be enough to change her mind about buying a car?

She said she will not be deterred unless fuel prices or ERP charges become so high that owning a car is too expensive.

Ms Conceicao said public transport is 'clean'

and the MRT trains are punctual, but connectivity is 'very bad'.

'We are living on a small island but this system is not efficient - that itself is a big sin,' said the former research fellow with the Institute of Policy Studies.

About two years ago, Ms Conceicao travelled by buses and trains, spending $5 to $6 each trip from her home in Ang Mo Kio to her office in Heng Mui Keng Terrace near the National University of Singapore.

'Because so much time was wasted commuting, I switched to taxis,' she said. She found herself paying $10 to $12 a trip.

After relying on cabs for two years and 10 months, she couldn't take it anymore.

'I felt my money would be better invested in a car,' she said.

She was so exasperated with public transport that she 'let fly' in one of the Transport Ministry's focus group discussions.

The discussions were held to gather feedback for a review on the transport system.

She reminisces about the 'good old days' when getting from Ang Mo Kio to Centrepoint mall in Orchard Road only took one bus trip.

'My mother and I 'cried' when we found out they stopped the service,' she said.

To get to Orchard Road now, one has to either take a feeder bus to the MRT station and board a train, or take a taxi.

It was Ms Conceicao's first time speaking up so boldly. 'This matter was close to my heart, so I did it,' she said.

More than complaining, she then decided enough was enough.

Now she's hoping to win a car. 'I was given 25 contest coupons for a lucky draw next month. The grand prize is a car. I hope to win it,' she said with a laugh.

If she doesn't win her dream car, she intends to buy a mid-range car, 'something that is not too expensive and not a gas guzzler'.

2008

May: Real-time bus arrival information panels at another 20 bus stops. Last year, panels installed at 30 bus stops in CBD and 2 HDB estates.

June: Network of normal bus lanes extended from 120km to 150km, full-day bus lanes from 7km to 23km.

July: Enhanced Integrated Public Transport Journey Planner with basic map features. Travel information, which cover both SBS Transit and SMRT services, can be obtained via Internet or hotline.

End 2008:

- Scheme to give signal priority to buses at traffic-light junctions, so they have right of way over other vehicles turning left into side roads. Now, even with bus lanes, buses are sometimes slowed down by other left-turning vehicles at traffic junctions.

- Motorists must give way to buses getting out of bus bays.

2009

- LTA to take on central planning of bus network so that one agency does all land transport planning with commuters in mind. Now, two public transport operators, SBS Transit and SMRT, plan bus routes within their areas of operation based on commercial considerations, subject to minimum service obligations.

- Distance-based fare system to get rid of current transfer-fare penalty. Commuters will pay fares based on distance they travel on bus, train or both, no matter how many transfers they make.

August: At least 80% of bus services must be run at peak frequencies of 10 minutes or less, compared with 15 minutes now.

2015

- Target 80 per cent of public transport commuters to complete journeys within an hour, up from 71% today.

2020

- Target 70 per cent of morning peak-hour trips on public transport.

- Narrow gap between journeys by public transport and those by car. Public-transport journeys should not take more than 1.5 times that by car, down from current 1.7 times.

- Build more integrated public transport hubs, like the one at Ang Mo Kio Hub. Construction has started on two more integrated bus interchanges at Boon Lay (2009) and Clementi (2011). Over the next 10 years, five interchanges at Bedok, Jurong East, Serangoon, Joo Koon and Marina South will be upgraded.

- Integrated multi-modal travel information system for door-to-door travel planning - with interactive electronic map of Singapore where commuters can get information on bus routes, bus stops and rail stations, arrival information and landmarks at a glance, at home or on office computer, and through mobile devices.

- Open up basic bus service sector to more competition by making the right to operate bus services contestable.