New formula for ERP charges
By Goh Chin Lian 
Under the new formula, ERP charges will kick in when, in line with international practice, just over 15 per cent of vehicles cannot go at what traffic engineers consider the best possible speed. -- PHOTO: ST FILE
TO GIVE motorists a smoother ride and better manage traffic congestion, the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges will be based on a new formula, which will kick in earlier when traffic speeds fall below the optimal range.
The base rate will also go up to $2, from the current $1, and each subsequent jump will be $1, instead of 50 cents now.
These changes announced by Transport Minister Raymond Lim on Wednesday, along with the addition of 16 ERP gantries, are aimed at easing congestion in the city area, as well as on major roads island-wide.
Not only are more vehicles on the roads, but motorists are also earning more these days compared to 10 years ago when Singapore introduced its world-first system of managing traffic by charging for road usage.
Current charges are just not hitting motorists' pockets hard enough to keep enough of them away.
The result: frequent increases to ERP rates to keep traffic flowing - nine in 2006 and 25 last year. The year-long land transport review figured enough was enough.
Under the new formula, ERP charges will kick in when, in line with international practice, just over 15 per cent of vehicles cannot go at what traffic engineers consider the best possible speed.
The current threshold speeds, set 10 years ago, are 45 kph on expressways and 20 kph on major roads.
But motorists still find themselves getting caught in slow traffic, and even experiencing 'stop-start' conditions, despite fine weather, and with no accident in sight, said Mr Lim.
The current threshold speeds are closed to the point where traffic flow can deteriorate rapidly to what traffic engineers call the 'unstable zone', leading to 'stop-start' traffic flow.
'This is undesirable and we need to create a buffer to ensure better traffic conditions,' said the minister.
To address this, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will no longer use average travelling speeds to determine ERP rate changes.
Instead, it will use the speed taken at the 85 percentile level, which will assure motorists of smooth travel on ERP-priced roads at least 85 per cent of the time.
The new formula, as well as the higher charges, will be phased in from July in the Central Business District (CBD) and Orchard Road, and then to other roads in due time.
The number of gantries will also go up in phases, from 55 now, to 60 in April, 65 in July and 71 in November.
Mr Lim said from feedback, motorists are willing to pay ERP charges if they can benefit from it.
'The changes will improve the effectiveness of the ERP system, so that each time ERP rates are adjusted, motorists who still choose to drive on these roads would see visible improvement in traffic flows,' said the minister.
On the five new gantries coming up in the CBD to discourage motorists from cutting through the already packed Suntec City, Bugis and Marina Square shopping areas, Mr Lim said speeds on major roads in the city area have fallen by more than 25 per cent.
For example, a motorist crossing the city from Bugis to Chinatown in the evening enjoyed travelling speeds of 25 kph five years ago. Today, the speeds have fallen by almost 30 per cent to 18 kph.
At major cross junctions between North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road, as well as South Bridge Road and Cross Street, the build-up of traffic has resulted in motorists having to wait for three or more traffic light changes before they are able to cross the junctions.
'We cannot let conditions deteriorate further,' said Mr Lim.
The expected increase in ERP revenue will be about $70 million a year.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_201732.html 
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