By Mr Teoh Kueh Liang

I REFER to the news report, -Only 1 of 6 planned gantries to be built (The Straits Times, Sept 27).

While motorists cheer the news that improved traffic flow has resulted in lower Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates in some downtown areas and that five of six gantries planned for November will not be set up, most motorists still have the following questions:

Will there be further fluctuations in ERP gantry rates in the Central Business District (CBD)? What if traffic conditions still do not improve? Will the rates be raised or maintained?

Will more ERP gantries be installed on roads which could potentially become congested?

The ERP system and levels of traffic congestion on our roads are closely tied to the following factors:

The supply or issuance of Certificates of Entitlement will depend on the demand for motor
vehicles.

The demand and supply of motor vehicles, in turn, will determine the traffic condition on Singapore's roads.

The efficiency and service quality of our public-transport system will affect the demand for motor vehicles. If the
system becomes a viable alternative to private transport, we might then depend less on the latter.

Reduced land area earmarked for road use as Singapore develops.

However, if there is no improvement to the level of congestion, especially on heavily used roads and in the CBD area, the ERP system will be here to stay.

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