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Source:
www.lta.gov.sg |
Expanding ERP Coverage To
Better Manage Congestion |
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Traffic congestion affects the quality of
life and the environment as well as the overall efficiency and
productivity of the economy. |
The LTA adopts a holistic and multi-pronged
approach to deal with congestion in a sustainable manner. These include
promoting the use of public transport, moderating vehicle growth, and
using Electronic Road Pricing (ERP). |
The ERP is a key tool for managing
congestion, by maintaining traffic flow within the optimal speed range
of 45 to 65 kilometres per hour on expressways and 20 to 30 kilometres
per hour on arterial roads. |
The ERP seeks to achieve relatively smooth
flowing roads by encouraging motorists to consciously plan their trips
via different routes or consider public transport alternatives. |
As demand for travel increases due to
factors such as population and economic growth, the ERP has to be
continually reviewed for effectiveness, to take into account dynamic
traffic conditions. |
The LTA has completed its review of traffic
conditions on the roads and will be extending the coverage of ERP at the
following locations. The changes take effect from 1 November 2007. |
South-bound Central Expressway (CTE):
Extension of Morning ERP Hours |
Currently, ERP is in operation on the
south-bound CTE from 7.30am to 9.30am during weekdays. The ERP has
been effective in keeping traffic congestion in check during this
period. |
However, outside the current ERP
operating hours, traffic speeds have consistently fallen below the
optimal speed range on the stretch between Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 and
Braddell Road. |
To improve traffic speeds, the
charging hours at the ERP gantry between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and
Braddell Road will be extended to operate from 7am to 11am on
weekdays. |
There will be no changes in the
operating hours (7.30am to 9.30am) of the other three ERP gantries
along south-bound CTE (between Braddell Road and PIE; and
Serangoon and Balestier Slip Roads). This is because the speeds
along this CTE stretch between Braddell Road and PIE remain within
the optimal speed range. |
North-bound Central Expressway (CTE):
New Gantry with Extended Evening ERP Hours |
The implementation of evening ERP on
the north-bound CTE since August 2005 has helped to improve travel
speeds on the CTE north of the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) exit.
However, the average traffic speeds on the stretch from Bukit
Timah to just before the PIE exit have consistently fallen below
the optimal speed range due to the high volume of traffic from the
city exiting to the PIE. |
To manage congestion along this
stretch, a new ERP gantry will be erected along the north-bound
CTE just before the PIE exit. The charging hours at this gantry
will be between 5.30 pm and 10.30 pm on weekdays. The charging
hours reflect the period during which congestion is experienced on
this stretch of the CTE. |
Evening ERP on East-bound East
Coast Parkway (ECP): New Gantries for Evening ERP Charging |
The high traffic volume along the
east-bound ECP between 6pm and 8pm on weekdays has led to traffic
congestion occurring between Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and Fort
Road exit of east-bound ECP. |
In March 2007, LTA had provided an
additional lane in each direction of the ECP between Fort Road and
Marina South to help alleviate the congestion. Despite this,
traffic speeds continue to remain below the optimal speed range. |
To manage the congestion, ERP will be
implemented on the east-bound ECP from 6pm to 8pm during weekdays.
An ERP gantry will be erected at each of the two accesses into the
east-bound ECP from the city and the AYE, namely, (i) before the
Rochor Road exit and (ii) at the Ophir Road slip road. |
South-bound Bukit Timah Expressway
(BKE): New Gantry for Morning ERP Charging |
Average traffic speeds on the BKE have
deteriorated below the optimal speed range on weekdays. A new ERP
gantry will be erected after the Dairy Farm exit, before the BKE
joins the PIE, to help manage the traffic congestion there. The
operating hours for this gantry will be from 7.30am to 9am during
weekdays. |
Installation of Other Gantries
Which Will Not Be Activated Until Speeds Fall Below Optimal Speed
Range |
South-bound Upper Bukit Timah
Road: New Gantry |
With the introduction of a new gantry
at the south-bound BKE, traffic at Upper Bukit Timah Road may
deteriorate as traffic decants from the BKE. |
Hence, an ERP gantry will be erected
along the south-bound Upper Bukit Timah Road after Hume Avenue to
allow us to address congestion in a timely manner if it were to
build up. This gantry will only be activated when congestion
builds up and traffic conditions warrant the implementation of ERP. |
LTA will give prior notice before
levying any ERP charge at this gantry. |
Outer Cordon: New ERP Gantries |
In May 1999, LTA announced that the
ERP system would be progressively expanded beyond the Restricted
Zone (RZ) to relieve traffic congestion along roads in the Outer
Cordon area under Phase 2 of the ERP plan. The aim is to relieve
congestion in the Outer Cordon area by forming a cordon covering
the radial roads leading into the city around the RZ. |
On 6 September 1999, LTA implemented
seven gantries in the Outer Cordon and the Central Expressway
under ERP Phase 2A, and announced that the remaining Phase 2
gantries would be implemented as and when traffic conditions
warrant it. |
There are 10 locations remaining in
the Outer Cordon where ERP has not been implemented. LTA has been
monitoring traffic conditions on these roads very closely and
anticipates that traffic speeds may deteriorate below the optimal
speed range at four of the locations. |
To enable LTA to be more timely in
managing traffic congestion on these roads, LTA will be installing
gantries at these four locations, namely Toa Payoh Lorong 6, Upper
Boon Keng Road, Kallang Bahru Road and Geylang Bahru Road. |
ERP charging will be activated only
when traffic conditions deteriorate and warrant the implementation
of ERP. LTA will continue to monitor the traffic conditions at the
remaining six locations. |
LTA will give prior notice before
implementing ERP charging at these gantries. |
More..... (Annexes) |
Source:
www.lta.gov.sg News Release 23
Aug 2007 |
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