A ride away from the
problem
Create taxi hubs at MRT stations just outside CBD and Orchard
areas
Tuesday August 1, 2006
Letter from Ramachandran Anand
Most solutions to the taxi problem suggested seem focused on micro
analysis of the economics of surcharges and incentives, when
clearly, most observers point out that it does not lead to any
dramatic improvements.
That said, the unavailability of taxis does not seem like an
islandwide problem; rather it seems concentrated in the CBD and
shopping district, areas well-connected by other forms of public
transport, especially the MRT.
So what prevents the Land Transport Authority (LTA) from promoting
an integrated solution involving people using MRT out of these
crowded places and picking up taxis outside the city?
The most common reason taxi drivers give for not venturing into the
CBD or Orchard Road include getting stuck in heavy traffic. Any
solution that is to succeed must address this.
What if LTA can devise a hub-spoke system which ensures ease of
taxi availability at all times outside the CBD area, within a 5-10
minute MRT ride?
Many commuters would not mind taking a 10-minute train ride out if
they are guaranteed availability of a taxi at another MRT station,
rather than wait up to 30 minutes for one. This will also partially
help decongest the CBD/Orchard area, with fewer taxis passing
through.
The solution is similar to the park-and-ride scheme in many
countries where commuters drive their cars to a nearby train
station and take public transport into the city and back. This
integration is what helps make the London transport system
efficient and the roads less congested.
In Singapore, why not integrate our cheap and efficient taxi system
with other public transportation?
I suggest forming taxi hubs at places such as Kallang, Paya Lebar,
Farrer Park, Outram Park and Novena MRT stations. Other taxi hubs
could be at bus/MRT interchanges at Bedok, Jurong and Toa Payoh.
Perhaps LTA, with its studies of traffic and demand, can suggest
better hubs.
As an incentive, taxi drivers could be allowed to levy a 50-cent or
$1 surcharge at these hubs. If these hubs are reasonably close to
where taxis dropped off their previous passengers, the assurance of
new passengers should attract a continuous availability of
taxis.
For commuters, paying $1 for a train ride plus a 50-cent surcharge
will still be lower than the additional amount they pay for calling
a taxi and adding on the CBD surcharge ($4 to $6 in total).
Living at Meyer Road which is not close to any MRT or bus stop, I
have thought, while waiting at Orchard or Raffles Place, of
catching a train to a nearby station and taking a taxi from there
but it is not easy to find taxis near MRT stations.
The solution lies in an integrated mass transport system and not
a cost-based solution that ensures availability only to a select
customer segment that is ready to pay more.
http://www.todayonline.com/pda/133839ag.htm
