LTA annual report shows traffic on expressways eased,
cars achieved better mileage
By Christopher Tan
RISING fuel prices helped put the brakes on driving in Singapore
last year, new Government data suggests.
The average car owner covered 20,840km last year, about 1 per
cent less than in 2006, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Based on Singapore's car population of about 500,000, that works
out to a cumulative cutback of 116.5 million km.
This came as pump prices jumped almost 50 cents a litre - or
roughly one third - between January and December last year.
The numbers were contained in the LTA's 2007 annual report,
which The Straits Times received yesterday. The report also
revealed that Singapore's expressways flowed more freely than they
did the year before.
Just over 97 per cent of expressways experienced average speeds
of above 45kmh during the morning rush hour in January this year,
up from 93 per cent in the same month last year. In the evenings,
97 per cent of expressways hit the 45kmh range, a slight
improvement over the previous year.
But conditions on main roads were not as rosy, with the
percentage of streets that saw speeds over 20kmh falling slightly
to 97 per cent during the morning peak period and 94 per cent in
the evening.
Meanwhile, Singapore drivers seem to be getting better
mileage.
The average small car (with an engine of up to 1,600cc) consumed
9.6 litres per 100km last year, while big cars (above 1,600cc) used
12 litres per 100km. These were the best economy figures recorded
in recent years.
The LTA's road-building programme has been picking up speed in
recent years too, according to its annual report.
Last year, 718 km of new lanes were added, the most in five
years and double the length built in 2003.
Observers reckon that may explain why traffic remained
relatively free-flowing despite a record 6.5 per cent increase in
vehicles last year, bringing the total to more than 851,000.
A further $54 billion worth of projects are planned over the
next 10 to 15 years as part of the Land Transport Master Plan -
Singapore's roadmap to a commuter-centred system that will see new
MRT lines, more bus services and an expanded road network.
LTA chairman Michael Lim said the authority will engage the
private sector in the ambitious roll-out.
'We have already begun to reach out to regional companies and
professionals who are keen to participate in Singapore's land
transport infrastructure expansion,' he said, without giving
details.
For the financial year ended March 2008, the LTA posted a net
surplus of $37 million, down from $44 million the previous year.
This was largely on the back of higher operating expenditure and a
dip in government grants.
Source: Straits Times