IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW ERP GANTRIES

Column: 845

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IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW ERP GANTRIES

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(Assessment of traffic flow situation): **

5.

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an assessment of the current traffic flow situation arising from (i) the phased implementation of new ERP gantries; and (ii) the revised charges to existing gantries, particularly those located in the CBD.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: LTA phased in the implementation of new Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries and the application of new ERP criteria on existing ERP gantries progressively, starting with the CBD and Orchard cordons in July 2008 before extending them to other areas. This is to give motorists time to adjust their travel plans and allow for the impact of ERP changes in the city area to work their way through the rest of the road network. If, as a result of the ERP changes in the city area, fewer motorists drive on the roads leading to the city, then ERP rates at other areas would not need to be adjusted if traffic speeds keep within optimal levels.

Since the implementation of ERP changes in the CBD and Orchard cordons in July 2008, traffic speeds in the city have improved significantly and are now within the optimal speed range. At the same time, LTA has also registered general improvement in traffic conditions on the roads and expressways beyond the city area during the ERP operating hours. Consequently, of the six locations that were planned in January 2008, only the gantry along PIE (westbound) near Eunos was implemented in November 2008, as traffic speeds at four locations – Commonwealth Avenue, Jalan Bukit Merah, Alexandra Road and AYE (westbound) – have risen to within the optimum range, while LTA will review if there is a need to implement ERP on Serangoon Road when traffic patterns have stabilised after its work with other agencies to study improvements to the physical environment in the Little India area is completed. Application of the new ERP criteria on existing ERP gantries in the Outer Cordon area also did not lead to as many increases in rates as were initially expected.

The last phase of implementation of the new ERP criteria on the remaining seven existing ERP gantries will take place during the next quarterly ERP rate review in February 2009. LTA will monitor traffic conditions on these roads and expressways closely before deciding on what changes are needed then.