[sustran] Re: Singapore

[Farheen Mukri]

Hi John, 

Well I thought the LTA website (www.lta.gov.sg) would have all this info,
such as charges, rate of increase, timings etc... but no, i guess not.

Let me just share what I know. The ERP charge is for CBD areas (from 7.30am
to 7pm) and the highway usage only in the mornings. 

All vehicles entering the CBD area pay between S$1 to S$2 per entry. So if
you exited the CBD area and remembered smthg else and need to drive back in,
the ERP meter will just happily deduct a second time round. Money is
deducted from cash cards in Electronic Units installed in each vehicle.
Charges are higher between 7.30am-9.30am and I think 4.30pm - 7pm compared
to those for 9.30 am to 4.30pm.

Some highways have a entry charge which varies from $0.50 to $2.20 depending
on the time of morning. 

Whether it works -- well, it's still hard to tell. While some pple car pool
(not enough obviously) and an increasing number are switching to the MRT and
buses, there does seem, on some roads, to be an ease in traffic flow. But I
can't be certain about this. Having said that I don't think we have really
bad traffic jams that keep you on the road for more than 1 hour, just
allowing cars to inch bit by bit. I could be wrong. There is no ERP on
Saturdays or Sundays and you can imagine the packed roads esp on Saturdays,
right in the heart of town. Maddening. 

Since the connections from bus to train and vice versa are relatively good,
there is a gradually noticeable number of Singaporeans who tend not to drive
into 'town' (meaning generally the main shopping belt) and instead switch to
public transport. But I guess it's not a significant difference. 

Farheen

> ----------
> From: 	John Whitelegg[SMTP:ecologic at gn.apc.org]
> Reply To: 	sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org
> Sent: 	08 August, 2000 3:19 PM
> To: 	'sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org'
> Subject: 	[sustran] Singapore
> 
> Dear Sustran discussers,
> 
> Can anyone tell me what the latest situation is in Singapore with respect
> to area licensing and to electronic road pricing/congestion charging.
> Specifically
> 
> What is currently in place
> How much does it cost
> Does it work
> 
> Because I don't believe in exploitation I will happily send to those who
> reply a report I have just written on the economic, social and
> environmental impact of aviation and how to curb the growth of flying
> through emission charges.
> 
> Very best wishes and thanks
> 
> John Whitelegg
>