<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Try Beijing Olympics method to ease peak-hour traffic
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE recent modifications to the Off-Peak Car Scheme seem to be aimed at cutting down peak-hour traffic. But the Land Transport Authority (LTA) wants motorist to pay more in exchange for extended use of the vehicles on the road. I wonder if the modifications are primarily targeted at reducing traffic congestion at peak hours or to retain revenues from red plate cars, or both.
Singapore motorists pay a heavy price for vehicle ownership - registration fee, additional registration fee, certificate of entitlement and excise duty for 10-year lifespan. In addition, they pay road tax, insurance, petrol tax, inspection fee, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) fees and parking charges.
Before the public transport system and taxi services can strike a balance in the optimum use of roads, the LTA may consider non-revenue measures to ease peak-hour congestion.
If LTA's primary objective is to reduce traffic congestion during morning and evening peak hours, I suggest one untested measure - take a leaf out of the book of the Beijing Olympic Games traffic control system and then tweak it to allow cars on alternate hours of the day instead of alternate days.
LTA can cut the number of vehicles (taxis, buses, ambulances and essential service excluded) on the road by half if it allows odd- or even-number plate vehicles to pass through ERP gantries free at certain times.
To facilitate normal working hours, the morning free window slot could run from 7.30am to 8.30am for odd numbers, and 8.31am to 9.30am for even numbers. The evening free window slot could run from 5.30pm to 6.30pm for odd numbers and 6.31pm to 7.30pm for even numbers. Vehicles that infringe the rules pay a flat rate of $3 per entry.
It is worthwhile to try out this idea. If it worked in Beijing, I am sure it will work here. At least motorists would enjoy a reprieve with the free one-hour window for going to work and returning home.
Paul Chan
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->THE recent modifications to the Off-Peak Car Scheme seem to be aimed at cutting down peak-hour traffic. But the Land Transport Authority (LTA) wants motorist to pay more in exchange for extended use of the vehicles on the road. I wonder if the modifications are primarily targeted at reducing traffic congestion at peak hours or to retain revenues from red plate cars, or both.
Singapore motorists pay a heavy price for vehicle ownership - registration fee, additional registration fee, certificate of entitlement and excise duty for 10-year lifespan. In addition, they pay road tax, insurance, petrol tax, inspection fee, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) fees and parking charges.
Before the public transport system and taxi services can strike a balance in the optimum use of roads, the LTA may consider non-revenue measures to ease peak-hour congestion.
If LTA's primary objective is to reduce traffic congestion during morning and evening peak hours, I suggest one untested measure - take a leaf out of the book of the Beijing Olympic Games traffic control system and then tweak it to allow cars on alternate hours of the day instead of alternate days.
LTA can cut the number of vehicles (taxis, buses, ambulances and essential service excluded) on the road by half if it allows odd- or even-number plate vehicles to pass through ERP gantries free at certain times.
To facilitate normal working hours, the morning free window slot could run from 7.30am to 8.30am for odd numbers, and 8.31am to 9.30am for even numbers. The evening free window slot could run from 5.30pm to 6.30pm for odd numbers and 6.31pm to 7.30pm for even numbers. Vehicles that infringe the rules pay a flat rate of $3 per entry.
It is worthwhile to try out this idea. If it worked in Beijing, I am sure it will work here. At least motorists would enjoy a reprieve with the free one-hour window for going to work and returning home.
Paul Chan
