CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY (Easing of traffic congestion on roads in vicinity)

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Communications what plans are being made to ease the traffic congestion on roads in the vicinity of the Central Expressway which motorists use as alternative ways to their destinations so as to avoid the Electronic Road Pricing System on the main highway.

The Minister of State for Communications (Dr John Chen Seow Phun) (for the Minister for Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) has not been implemented yet, I suppose the Member is referring to the Road Pricing Scheme (RPS) on the CTE in the Question.

The main alternative roads to CTE are Upper Serangoon Road and Upper Thomson Road. Work is in progress to build a three-tiered interchange at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Braddell Road. When completed in 1999, it will improve traffic flow along Upper Serangoon Road. In the meantime, LTA has made adjustments to the traffic light timing at some junctions along these roads to improve the traffic flow.

However, motorists must realise that the objective of the RPS is to ease the congestion along our key expressways and arterial roads and to provide them with a choice of fast transit by paying an appropriate fee. Motorists too must play their part. It is difficult to expect both the expressways and alternate routes to have light traffic at peak hours, unless more of those who are unwilling to pay the RPS charges and are unhappy with the heavier traffic along alternate routes, choose other options. These other options include taking public transport, park and ride, car-pooling, or changing their time of travel.

When the RPS scheme was extended to the expressways on 5th May, the public transport operators introduced four new express bus services to provide motorists using the expressways another option. Public response to these four new express bus services has been encouraging, with ridership more than doubling since service began.

The park and ride scheme allows the commuters easier connection to the MRT or public bus system and helps reduce their transport costs. It is another good alternative to driving. To-date, out of the 3,759 car parks available, 731 or 19.4% has been taken up. We have received feedback that the current time limit of 8.00 pm is a constraint as some commuters are unable to return to their cars before 8.00 pm due to work commitments. I am therefore pleased to announce that Transit Link, the operator of the park and ride scheme, will extend the weekday parking hours by one hour from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm with effect from 1st August 1997. This move should encourage more motorists to make use of the park and ride scheme.

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State what is the rationale for ALS label holders using the CTE in the mornings being charged additional fees under the RPS while ALS holders using the PIE and the ECP are not charged?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, this was the concession that LTA gave to full-day ALS holders using CTE until 1st July 1997. The reason why we have to withdraw the concession is that almost 80% of those who travelled along the CTE held the full-day ALS pass. That contributed to the congestion. In order to alleviate the congestion, we have to withdraw that concession so that those who pay for the $2 RPS pass would enjoy the benefit of free-flowing traffic along the CTE. In the past, they did not have to pay even a cent. Now they have to pay $2.

Mr Sinnakaruppan: Would the Minister consider extending this concession to the CTE users until July 1998?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: No, the concession was given on 5th May when RPS was extended to the CTE. Because of the concession, the scheme was not effective enough to reduce congestion. That is why the Ministry has decided to withdraw that concession and motorists using CTE are required to pay for the $2 RPS pass.

Dr Toh See Kiat (Aljunied): Will the Minister of State review the system now that it has become so effective that there is hardly any congestion on the CTE?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, the result of this refinement is a positive one. The average speed during the restricted hours has moved from 25 kph before RPS to slightly above 60 kph. That is the target that we are reaching. Of course, we are mindful that if we overcharge, it would result in under-utilisation of the expressways, and that is not good. Our target is at least 55 kph. And we are quite happy with the range from 55 kph to 65 kph.