SINGAPORE– The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will look into the proposal to review and introduce a more attractive toll rates at the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua) Expressway, especially during off-peak hours, in a bid to encourage more motorists to use it.
Malaysian Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the proposal was made and agreed upon by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong at the 8th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat at the Istana, here yesterday.
Liow said the proposal was one of the short-term approaches to be taken by both governments to address the issue of traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway pending completion of the Rapid Transit System project, which is expected in 2024.
We will study the possibility to reduce the toll rates during off-peak hours, hence encourage more people to use the Linkedua Expressway because during peak hours, the expressway will be badly congested, sometimes for two, three hours, he told reporters on the sideline of Najib’s hi-tea session with the Malaysian community here yesterday afternoon.
Liow said this in response to Najib’s remark earlier that Malaysia and Singapore were looking at reviewing tolls at the Linkedua Expressway to make it attractive for people to use as one of the ways to ease congestion at the Johor Causeway.
When asked the duration needed for the study, Liow said it would probably take six months.
Right now, Liow said he could not estimate the new toll rates, but promised that it would be attractive.
Meanwhile, the minister said both countries had also agreed to increase the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) shuttle frequency from Johor Bahru to Woodlands from the current 26 trips daily to 31, within the next couple of months.
In fact, we will try to increase the shuttle frequency to 36 trips daily next year as one of the ways to address congestion at the Causeway, he said.
It is estimated that over 300,000 motorists use the Johor Causeway daily.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK