Investigating impacts of implementing NEW road pricing system

• Main Author: Chong, Ke Chun
• Other Authors: Wong Yiik Diew
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157504
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In Singapore, about 12% of land is taken up by road network, which supplies the important infrastructure for mobility. Herein, good transport planning and management are critical towards minimising traffic congestion on our road network. Singapore implemented the road pricing system as a key demand management measure since 1974, and the present system, the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system, was implemented in 1998. The ERP allows automatic electronic payment deduction as vehicles drive through control gantries, and the ERP is therefore a fixed-point mobility tracking system. There is now well-established technology by way of satellite-based geospatial tracking to provide near continuous mobility tracking system. Herein, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is now implementing the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which allows distance-based charging. With GNSS, there shall be an On-Board Unit (OBU) for communications and charging utility. Under the forthcoming GNSS system in the ERP 2 programme (hereafter called the NEW system), LTA is interested to find out how the motorist population views the NEW system. The OBU provides the direct interface between the NEW system and the users, hence it is value-added to better understand how users perceive the OBU too. Herein, a survey was conducted in this project to assess motorists’ perception about the NEW system, aimed at identifying pertinent areas to enhance motorists’ acceptance level. The target population is non-commercial vehicle drivers such as private car drivers and motorcyclists. The online survey collected responses from 201 motorist subjects. There are a number of findings from the survey. Firstly, training on how to use the OBU seems to be a crucial factor as it provides the motorists with information regarding the usage of the new device, which will in turn help them to gain a better understanding. It is further broken down into two components, namely the sufficient information provided during training and the official announcement made about OBU. Secondly, there are three particular areas to be improved on for the OBU, such as the usefulness in navigation, interaction with the NEW system, as well as usefulness of information provided by the OBU. Improvement on these functions allow the motorists to have a better and more convenient driving experience. Lastly, the effects of a crisis event such as a pandemic outbreak should also be taken into account during the process of designing the OBU, as it is seen that the COVID-19 has greatly affected the travel behaviour of the majority of motorists in Singapore. All in all, the NEW ERP system is still uncertain as LTA is still open to making changes to the design of the device, in accordance with the various feedback from the motorists. With all these actions taken, Singaporeans shall eventually perceive the NEW system in a positive manner.