FASTER PARKING: Electronic signboards like these, to direct drivers to the nearest carpark with available lots, will be set up in the city from March. This will reduce the number of vehicles cruising around for parking lots. -- PHOTO: LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY

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Buses to arrive more often

From June, bus services in areas affected by the new ERP charges will arrive within 12 minutes during the peak periods instead of 15.

By August next year, the wait will go down further to 10 minutes.

A shorter wait is good news for business development executive Jane Tan, 26. It will mean getting to work on time.

She said: 'It usually takes about 20 minutes for my bus to arrive, and even though I leave the house early, I still end up reaching the office late because of the long waiting time.'

VIDEO Fed-up with ERP? Go public (1:40)

Buses to duplicate some rail routes

This idea was initially rejected because resources were seen as being duplicated.

But the Government has now decided to allow buses to ply routes parallel to the North-South and East-West lines, to give commuters more choice in their travel modes.

Buses will also provide an attractive alternative to trains.

Student Chan Meiling, 23, who lives in Ang Mo Kio, is looking forward to an alternative to the sometimes-crowded train.

'The waiting time for such buses should be short, to match the waiting time for trains so people will take buses and not flock to the trains,' she said.

The new buses will start in June. The LTA said these services will likely be run where there is heavy commuter traffic and where rail capacity cannot be expanded quickly.

More premium bus services

Residents in the suburbs of Katong, Holland, Bukit Timah, Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, Tampines and Yio Chu Kang can look forward to direct connections to Shenton Way, Robinson Road, Suntec City and Orchard Road via premium buses.

These services, which charge more than regular buses but offer their passengers assured seats and fewer stops along the way, will number 72 by June, up from the current 42.

Operators will run return trips in the evening on popular services.

Premium buses give commuters a choice which they will feel is comparative to driving their own cars.

Trains to come at higher frequency

Commuters will have to wait for only about two to three minutes at the height of the morning rush hour, when the crush of commuters is at its highest, down from the current three minutes.

Trains will also come more frequently during the lunch hour - every five to six minutes instead of the current seven minutes.

These measures, coupled with the additional 93 train trips to be added every week from next week, should reduce crowding and give commuters a more comfortable ride, said the LTA.

Greater use of technology

Signs to point out available parking lots

From March, electronic signboards will tell drivers where the nearest parking facility with available lots is, starting in the Suntec City and Marina Square area.

This will cut down the number of vehicles cruising around looking for parking lots, which adds to congestion in certain areas.

Mr Daniel Tan, a 24-year-old actuary, said: 'At least, now I can plan ahead and reduce all the unnecessary turns. The signboards must be placed where drivers have enough time to make a turn.'

Beefing up Emas and J-eyes

The Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (Emas) will be extended to 10 major roads.

Emas cameras will also more than double - 776 by 2013 from the current 309.

This system will alert the authorities to traffic incidents so they can react to them, especially when motorists are affected.

'J-eyes' or Junction-eyes are cameras installed at road junctions.

More of these will be put in commission - 273 by next month, up from 200.

Radio channel for traffic news

A radio channel dedicated to traffic news for motorists will be launched.

At the moment, some radio stations give traffic bulletins, interspersed with regular programming.

The LTA said it may work with existing media on this initiative.

MARIA ALMENOAR AND AMY TAN

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