TODAY: Besides ERP, any other solution?

Letter from Matthew Yap | May 30, 2011 6:00

I REFER to the report that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is looking into the possibility of implementing a new Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system (May 25).

I would like to share my views on the issue of traffic congestion that the ERP system was introduced to tackle.

First, on the width of expressways. I am thankful that the LTA has been adding lanes to the Central Expressway (CTE).

However, the LTA should study the cost-benefit analysis of building highways with seven to eight lanes in each carriageway vis-a-vis a three or four-lane one and adding lanes regularly.

There is room for expressways like the Kranji Expressway (KJE) now but this pre-emptive move is lost when housing is built.

As a business development director for a multinational company, I travel widely and often marvel at highways that cope with heavy traffic flow. The Middle East countries have a lower traffic volume than Singapore but they build highways with seven-lane carriageways at the outset.

This means there is no need for any road work in the short to medium term to cope with any increase in traffic.

As for optimising existing road use, I was impressed by the introduction of an Olympic lane for tournament vehicles during last year’s Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

The optimal use of roads by time and space offers a strategy to regulate traffic flow.

Jakarta requires there to be three persons per car in order for them to use the highways during peak evening traffic. California requires there to be two persons per car in order for them to use the overtaking lane. The penalty for breaching the rules is a punitive fine.

In Singapore, a noticeable difference should be apparent in a short span of time. The land available is largely fixed but the flexible use of roads can help.

The issue of car ownership has brought about much debate in the press and among netizens as to what is fair, and what loading or taxes to introduce for second or third cars.

My take is that a world-class public transport system does little when many people load the system during the morning and evening peak hours.

I am certain the LTA can learn a lot looking at the road policies employed in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

It should gather feedback from the public before going ahead with a potentially expensive ERP exercise trial that may turn out to be yet another exercise in futility.

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10th paragraph reminds me of carpool exclusive lane encountered in most recent driving experience in USA.

2 things:

1. effectiveness?

2. the how-to of determining ‘car-pool status’ by the authorities <- either too manual/labour intensive or too advanced