MODERATING CAR GROWTH

MODERATING CAR GROWTH

44.

Mrs Mildred Tan asked the Minister for Transport given the opening of the Circle Line and the improvements in public transport over the years, whether the Ministry will study the possibility of a slower car growth of 1% or less.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: In 2009 we reduced the vehicle growth rate from 3% to 1.5% for a period of three years, and said that we will assess in 2012, whether a further reduction is necessary.

There are several factors that we need to take into account in deciding on what the vehicle growth rate should be. The improvement in the public transport network as pointed out by Mrs Tan is one important factor but it is not the only one. The projected road growth of 0.5% for the next 10 to 15 years, advances in road management technologies to better optimise our road capacity, and success of usage restraint measures as well as other initiatives to bring about a shift towards public transport would also be taken into consideration. In addition, factors which affect travel patterns including population growth, the changing demographics and the distribution of housing and employment centres also need to be taken into account.

For a policy with wide implications like the vehicle population growth rate, it is prudent for us to take a measured approach to any changes. As we have only reduced the vehicle population growth rate to 1.5% for just over a year, we should allow time for the impact of these changes to take effect and for people to adjust before considering further changes.