Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) on Weekends

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry would review the need (i) to impose ERP charges on weekends and (ii) to extend the ERP cordoning strategy to weekends.

The Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Josephine Teo) (for the Minister for Transport): I thank Mr Liang for his question. Traffic congestion at any time leads to a sub-optimal use of our road network. It undermines our quality of life, the environment, and the overall efficiency of the economy. Congestion therefore needs to be kept in check. Where possible, traffic engineering methods, such as road widening, have been implemented to relieve congestion. However, where such solutions are not available or have been exhausted, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) has been introduced.

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We have generally applied ERP based on ensuring an optimal travel speed either on individual roads, such as expressways and major arterial roads, or to the city area using a cordon concept. The cordon concept, where all routes entering the same area are priced uniformly, is necessary because the roads leading into the city area are fairly good substitutes for one another. The lack of a cordon would only lead to traffic diverting into roads that are not priced or priced lower, resulting in greater localised congestion.

The reasons for introducing ERP on Saturdays for the Orchard and Bugis-Marina Centre cordons in 2005 and 2008 respectively still stand today. Since its implementation, ERP has improved traffic speeds within these cordons and maintained them within the acceptable range. ERP rate reviews are carried out quarterly, as well as for the June and December school holidays, to ensure that ERP rates remain relevant to the traffic situation.

While the core principles of ERP remain essential, we will continue to be flexible at the margins where there is room to fine-tune the system. For instance, we recently shortened the evening ERP operating hours for gantries along the northbound Central Expressway (CTE) before the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and the southbound Singapore River Line, taking into consideration public feedback, traffic conditions and travel patterns. In response to feedback on weekend ERP and cordon charging, and also to take into account the changes in the road network in the vicinity of Marina Centre area, we will be moving the Nicoll Highway gantry in 2012 and adjust the Bugis-Marina Centre cordon, to enable motorists to access the East Coast Parkway (ECP) via the Nicoll Highway without having to pass through and pay ERP at the cordon. In doing so, motorists will have a greater choice in choosing their travel routes and times. Motorists who want a smoother drive can still do so by paying the ERP charges. We will continue to monitor the traffic situation and fine-tune the ERP scheme where necessary.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah): Sir, we are talking about Saturday's ERP. It is a non-working day, a day where the office CBD crowds are not rushing to get into their offices. Perhaps the impact to economy would be less severe. I would like to ask the Minister of State whether LTA can go a little easier on Saturdays in their road management and perhaps even do a trial and see if we were to switch off the ERP on Saturdays, what will be the difference in the behaviour of road users. Perhaps we may learn something new from there in how we can manage traffic. I hope the Minister of State would look into this – whether there is a necessity to have ERP on Saturdays, given it is a non-working day.

Mrs Josephine Teo: I thank Mr Liang for his supplementary question. Let me reassure the Member that the decision to implement Saturday ERP for these areas was not taken lightly. Average speeds had deteriorated to below 20 km/h before ERP was introduced. This has since improved and speeds are now kept within the optimal range between 20 km/h and 30 km/h. Even on Saturdays, there are economic activities like the retail trade in the Bugis-Marina Centre and Orchard areas. So, taking these factors into consideration, the ERP will continue to be implemented in these areas. Having said that, ERP implementation is not static and we will continue to fine-tune it from time to time.

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Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State: What is the speed along the CTE in the evening when the ERP is imposed and under what circumstances will the evening ERP be removed?

Mrs Josephine Teo: Sir, I do not have the exact figure with me right now but I can provide it to the Member in due course. So far, feedback on the removal of the ERP from 8.00 pm onwards has been a positive one. Having said that, I would also like to point out that there has been feedback from people who, considering that the traffic build-up after 8.00 pm will be greater, do decide now to leave for home before 8.00 pm and choose to pay the ERP to enjoy a smoother ride.

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): The Minister of State has just said that LTA has shortened the evening ERP to 8.00 pm and that there has been positive response. If the approach of LTA is to allow some degree of traffic congestion during non-critical hours, surely, we can consider allowing some degree of traffic congestion on non-working days like Saturdays. So, why do we not review it earlier and cut the ERP on Saturdays as well?

Mrs Josephine Teo: As I have said earlier, ERP implementation is not static and it will continue to be adjusted and fine-tuned from time to time. I understand the Members' concern on behalf of their residents, and people that they have encountered and received feedback from, to remove ERP completely on weekends and evenings. I would just like to remind the Members that in the Orchard area, before ERP was implemented, traffic speeds were lower, causing some people who used Orchard Road for shopping purposes to feel that the traffic congestion there was not within acceptable levels to them. So, we have to strike a balance and today, having introduced ERP, not at very high rates, the speeds along the Orchard Road areas on weekends have been maintained at an acceptable level.

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade): Sir, I support the call by Mr Liang about considering the removal of ERP on weekends. The Minister of State mentioned earlier that from retailers' viewpoint, they may consider congestion on weekends as a factor that would adversely affect their business. I believe otherwise. I would actually like to suggest that LTA conducts a survey among retailers in that belt and ask them whether freeing up ERP on weekends would be a move that they support. If they do, then it will be a win-win for every sector – win for the businesses, and certainly more car owners would support this. It may be something that the entire community is advocating and they are prepared to live with the congestion that comes with it.

Mrs Josephine Teo: We are always open to suggestions. The retailers, whether they are at the Orchard Road area or the Bugis-Marina area, are very welcomed to provide their feedback and suggestions, and we will consider them carefully.

Mr Speaker: I think we will move on, otherwise I will have to start imposing ERP as well. [ Laughter. ] Dr Janil Puthucheary, next question, please.