An average of 1,800 motorists now use the Park & Ride scheme every month, a 20 percent increase from the figure four years ago, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said, reported The Straits Times.
Each month, motorists snap up 90 percent of the available season parking tickets at the more popular Park & Ride carparks. There are now 16 carparks with such a high utilisation rate, compared with just 10 in 2010. In total, there are 41 of these carparks across the island, offering over 4,700 parking spaces, the LTA said.
Cost savings appear to be a main draw for those taking up the 24-year old scheme, designed to ease traffic congestion in the city. Motorists pay $70 every month - $30 for a season parking ticket at a Park & Ride carpark of their choice, and a $40 card for travel on MRT trains and buses. The season parking ticket allows them to park between 7:00am and 9:00pm on weekdays.
But the popularity of some Park & Ride carparks can pose a challenge in securing a space. The $70 Park & Ride set goes on sale on the 15th of each month. For those who want a parking space at a popular location, it means going online to book a set as early as 8:00am, when the sale starts.
The LTA said it will continue to assess if more carparks and parking spaces are needed. It is also looking at identifying carparks near new MRT stations to add to the scheme.
