‘School holidays, but you increase ERP rates’ — Netizens on LTA’s S$1 ERP increase

Members of the public wondered why the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates were increased when the school holidays were starting.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its latest review of ERP rates and observed traffic build-up at various stretches of expressways.

Nine time periods across six locations have been identified for ERP rate increases as traffic speeds at these timeslots have fallen below the optimal speed range, said LTA in a news release on Monday (Nov 14).

Beginning Nov 19, ERP rates at the following five time periods across three locations will be increased by S$1.00. LTA said that low speeds would likely persist there throughout the December school holidays.

Meanwhile, the ERP rates for four time periods across three locations will be increased after the school holidays from Jan 3, 2023.

Responding to the news, netizens wondered why the rates needed to increase despite the holidays.

“Increase on school holidays? So increase some more in January when school starts? Plus GST?” asked Facebook user Manfred Tan.

“So what happens if the traffic is still slow after the price is increased? Are you going to pay back to the drivers?” added Facebook user Ronnie Ng.

One Nur Que noted that congestion would likely happen at different times instead.

LTA also announced that the ERP rates for seven time periods across four locations would reduce during the December school holiday period from Nov 19, 2022, to Jan 2, 2023. /TISG

Another ERP increase ‘yet traffic problem not solved’, still using same excuse: netizen