SINGAPORE: The Government collected S$152 million in Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) revenue last year, which is a dip from the S$160 million consistently collected in preceding years, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew to Parliament here the other day.
This was in response to questions from several MPs who wanted to know if ERP rates could be adjusted on certain roads.
Mr Lui said the smaller revenue is in part due to the opening of the Marina Coastal Expressway, which saw ERP charges along both the MCE and ECP, lowered, for three consecutive quarters.
He explained that the optimal speed for expressways is 45 to 65km/hour. When speeds reach above 65km/hr, ERP charges are lowered or removed. Correspondingly if speeds go consistently below 45km/hr, rates are raised, for the particular time belt. The same goes for arterial roads.
The speed parameters for that is between 20 and 30km/hr. If speeds are consistently above the upper threshold, ERP charges will be reduced, and likewise raised, if it is consistently below the lower threshold.
Mr Lui added that charges for entry into Orchard Road will remain, on Saturdays.
“We still feel that there is a need to have this on Saturday afternoon. And for those who find the ERP charge is a burden, then maybe the possibility is for them to shop on Sundays instead because Sundays is entirely free and the traffic speeds a little bit better,” he said.
