Singapore's ERP - a sense of Helplessness!

With oil prices now soaring to new highs of USD 145 per barrel and no indication of a reversal anytime soon, car ownership and transportation costs, become issues to be given serious time for re-evaluation.

Then comes the decision by the government, to increase the number of ERP gantries and also to increase the rates for passing through these. Tonight, many Singapore motorists must be having some of these questions on their minds as they prepare to begin a new week.

It is always a good base to start from facts. And the Sunday Times of 13th July 2008, provides plenty:
1. 65 ERP gantries
2. 16 more ERP gantries by Sept 2008
3. Each costs a S$ 1.5 mio to build
4. annual revenues of S$ 70 mio

A quick check with LTA website would advise that at the end of December 2007, there were 870,441 vehicles of various types on the road. If we just pooled cars (505,987), taxis (24,446), goods vehicles (150,979) we have 681,412 vehicles on the road. So S$ 70 mio divided by 52 weeks and 5 days per week, we get a $269,230.76 revenues per day collected by the 65 gantries and if we further divide that amount by the number of vehicles ie 681,412, then on average, $0.40 cents is collected per vehicle per day. This is less than the $0.50 minimum chargeable rate.

The number does not look right.

From the Sunday Times, a recent survey would advise:
1. 71 % of polled motorists would not change their route
2. 87 % goes through 1 or 2 ERP per day
3. 85% pays less than $5 per day

So unless there are many vehicles which do not pass through ERP gantries when they are in operation, the average looks underestimated. Perhaps the revenue of S$ 70 mio is understated instead. Looking forward to the LTA to provide more information before these numbers can be reconciled.

Unless you are one of the lucky few who only pays $0.40 cents on average per day, you may have to consider adjustments to your current lifestyle.

To discover the Hero in You what is it that you CAN do to mitigate the higher costs of driving in Singapore:
1. Grin and Bear it or
2. Avoid the ERP operational hours or avoid the higher tariffs times
3. Consider car pooling to share costs
4. Consider giving up car ownership and take the Taxis
5. There is always the alternative of the Bus or the MRT when Taxis become expensive

Don't waste precious emotional energies to fight the events that we have no control over e.g. ERP gantries and payable tariffs or rising oil prices.

Indeed there are positives to consider as well:
1. cost savings to be had and therefore available for other expenditure e.g. an extra holiday treat, more eatouts, a gift for a loved one etc..
2. a change of scene - a different route - a different time of travel could offer a different perspective from routine. Change how you look at the world, and you change the world.Sometimes, this is an advocated stress therapy. It could work for you too.
3. do your part to lower the CO2 footprint - a better world citizen.

Lesson take-away :
A. Do What you Can not what you Cannot
B. Look at the Positives