Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Electronic Road Pricing Charges' Effect on Drivers' Decision on Route and Travel Mode

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     whether there is any study conducted on how Electronic Road Pricing charges nudge drivers to (i) take alternative routes along smaller roads that may involve longer journeys (ii) to switch to public transport and (iii) not to travel; and 

b.     if so, what are the breakdowns respectively.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     ERP is a congestion management tool and helps to maintain traffic speeds within an optimal range. By adjusting ERP rates at specific locations and specific timeslots where traffic speeds are low, it sends a price signal for motorists to find alternative modes, routes, or timing. Typically, when ERP rates are increased at a gantry and during a particular timeslot, we observe that traffic volume is reduced and speeds improve. This implies that some motorists do switch to other routes, timeslots, or modes.

2.     The ERP system was not designed to track routes taken by individual motorists. Instead, LTA monitors the aggregate traffic volume and speed across our road network to ensure that traffic remains smooth-flowing.