ERP again

ERP rates going up again for third time this year
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 October 2007 2045 hrs

SINGAPORE: Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates are going up again for the third time this year.

There will also be new gantries erected.

The highest amount will be charged at the Pan Island Expressway (PIE). The gantry affected is the one at the slip road into the Central Expressway (CTE).

From November 5, motorists will pay $3.50 from 7:30am to 8:00am. The amount charged goes up to $5.00 between 8:30am and 9:00am. This is a $1.50 increase in the 8:30am to 9:00am period since February this year.

The latest hike comes just days after the opening of the Kallang-Payar Lebar Expressway (KPE) Tunnel.

The KPE is expected to ease congestion on the CTE when it opens fully late next year.

ERP rates will also go up by 50 cents at six other gantries.

The CTE gantry north of Braddell Road will cost $2.50 between 7:30am and 8:00am.

Three CTE gantries south of Braddell Road will cost $4.00 between 8:30am and 9:00am.

Those travelling along Bendemeer Road will have to pay $1.50 from 8:30am to 9:00am, instead of the current $1.

Drivers on Thomson Road will also have to pay $1.50 between 8:30am and 9:00am.

New ERP gantries will also start operating on November 5.

There will be one on the north-bound CTE just before the PIE exit, and two along the east-bound ECP before the Rochor Road exit and Ophir Road slip road.

There is also another one on the south-bound Bukit Timah Expressway after the Dairy Farm exit before it joins the PIE. - CNA /ls

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/308462/1/.html

“The latest hike comes just days after the opening of the Kallang-Payar Lebar Expressway (KPE) Tunnel.

The KPE is expected to ease congestion on the CTE when it opens fully late next year.”

Hmm… sometimes, I feel that I am stupid too. We have a new expressway opening up to ease traffic congestion so the rationale of the rise in ERP is??? To further ease the traffic congestion? That must be the case and this shows how efficient our government is and the foresight that they have. It has been pointed out by Lucky Tan that the rise in charge coincides with the start of the school holidays, where traffic is lighter due to the school holidays. Our government is thinking for their citizens. In November, when there is lighter traffic, they can do more experimenting and find solutions to problems should they arise. E.g. if in November, the traffic conditions don’t change, they will do another revision.

Don’t you know that ERP has resulted in an increase in car ownership? Haven’t you learnt the lesson that when prices go up, they tend not to come down? So to maintain the status quo, ERP charges have to go up to make up for the shortfall in the COE revenue. Bearing in mind we are peasants, we shouldn’t be allowed to own so many cars.

Sometimes I wonder whether this is a ploy to increase the productivity of peasants. The only way to avoid the charges is to go to work early and leave work late. This way, we get to work longer hours and avoid the charges altogether, a good way to contribute to the economy. Peasantland FTW!