Raise Saturday ERP Rates To Ease Gridlock

Source : The Straits Times, Forum, Aug 31, 2007

I REFER to the letter by Ms Naleeza Ebrahim, 'Saturday ERP keeps Orchard Rd traffic going' (ST, Aug 29), and could not agree less with the views of the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

From where I live, I have a perfect view of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road and the weekend traffic gridlock is appalling. There was one Saturday evening when I missed four green lights even though I was just metres away from the traffic junction.

Being a student of economics, I understand the relationship between the demand and supply of road utilisation. During the weekends, demand for the use of Orchard Road is far more than what the road network can supply, therefore a price, in the form of ERP, must be imposed to regulate demand so that there is optimal utilisation of the road.

Unfortunately, many motorists don't understand the ramifications of not having ERP on Saturdays: emergency vehicles would be caught in jams, endangering the lives of whoever requires their service; goods vehicles would be delayed, resulting in late deliveries and affecting trade; the environment would be damaged by the fumes of vehicles; oil prices might rise in the long run due to wastage of petrol while engines continue running in jams, etc.

I had even contemplated writing to LTA to suggest a further increase in ERP rates for the Orchard area during peak periods and on Saturdays.

One of the reasons why rates for ERP are so high and are in operation for longer hours is to discourage the use of private vehicles downtown and as an incentive to take public transport.

Furthermore, the tax collected from the ERP can be used to fund projects that benefit the environment, to offset the pollution caused by vehicles caught in jams.

I thank the LTA for doing what it thinks is best for society.

Pavin Limanont