The Electronic Road Pricing System

Congestion Pricing Experiences in Singapore

Dr Kian-Keong Chin Chief Engineer, Transportation Land Transport Authority Singapore Congestion Pricing – just one component of a Transport Strategy

 Cannot work on its own  Singapore: Public Transport is key alternative A Traffic Management Tool – Not for revenue generation

 First practical application of road pricing - started June 1975.  Paper licences required for entry (only) into the Central Business District (RZ), demarcated by gantries.

 Daily and monthly paper licences.

 Manually enforced.

 Cordon-based marked by gantries  Paper licences (for payment on entries)  Enforcement - manual

 Cordon-based marked by gantries  Electronic In-Vehicle Unit with smart-card (for payment on entries)  Enforcement – camera images  Back-end Central Control System

CBD

 Varies by vehicle type  Varies by location of gantry  Varies by time of day - ranges from S$0.50 to S$4.00 per pass

 Deducted at point of use from smart-card  Post-payment with administrative charges  Credit card payment

100,000 Before After -13% end-2000 50,000 -8%

0 Morning Off-Peak Evening (2 hours) (7.5 hours) (2hours)

 To ensure use of road space is optimised  Review at 3-monthly intervals  Reduced during long school holidays Expressways 45 kph 65 kph Increase Decrease Increase Decrease

20 kph 30 kph Other Roads

 Aug 05 – ERP extended to manage evening peak hour congestion for home-bound trips (on the Central Expressway, CTE)

 Aug 05 – ERP extended to manage evening peak hour congestion for home-bound trips (on the Central Expressway, CTE)  Travel time between 6 – 8 pm improved.  Motorists have a choice.

5,500 Before Aug-05 5,000 Nov-05 4,500 Jan-06 4,000 3,500

No. of Vehicles 3,000 2,500 2,000 6-6.30 6.30-7 7-7.30 7.30-8

 Oct 05 – Two distinct pricing cordons in city – Orchard and CBD with different operating hours and charges  Orchard cordon has different traffic characteristics  Intent is to reduce through traffic on Orchard corridor

Additional Gantries

Orchard

CBD

18,000 35% 20% 16,000 29% 25% 14,000 Afternoon (1.30-3.30pm) 12,000 10,000 Through Traffic 8,000 Orchard Traffic 6,000 No. of Vehicles 4,000 2,000 0

Before Oct-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Copyright © Land Transport Authority 2010 ERP on Orchard Rd - Weekday 38% 20,000 18,000 Through Traffic 16,000 Orchard Traffic 14,000 29% 28% 20% Evening (5.30-7.30pm) 12,000 10,000 8,000

6,000 No. of Vehicles 4,000 2,000 0

Before Oct-05 Nov-05 Jan-06

25,000 25,000 Through Traffic 35% 36% Orchard Traffic 20,000 20,000 19% 19% 25% 22% 26% 25% 15,000 15,000

10,000 10,000

No. No. of Vehicles No. No. of Vehicles

5,000 5,000

0 0

Before Oct-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Before Oct-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Afternoon (1.30-3.30pm) Evening (5.30-7.30pm)

Operates 6-8pm weekdays

New Pricing Line

20000 -38% -30% 15000

10000 RiverLine 5000

Volume Crossing Singapore Singapore Crossing Volume 0 Before Jul-08 Oct-08

Improve design of the 44.7% roads

Allow less vehicles on 40.2% the roads

ERP is good enough 24.4%

Provide cheaper 0.2% public transport

Discouraging vehicle 0.2% ownership

n = 443 No comments 4.5%

 Pricing Strategy to be flexible and relevant  ERP complements other transport tools  land-use planning, road building, use of technology, traffic & incident mgmt  Viable Travel Alternatives Needed  Keep Scheme and Pricing Simple  Not to generate revenue for Government  Communications is never enough  Not just a fiscal measure but to change behaviour Copyright © Land Transport Authority 2010 Making ERP Rates Visible