Singapore to raise Causeway toll charges starting next month
[UPDATED Friday 12 Sep, 5pm: LTA revises Causeway toll charges from 1 October]
Whatever you do, we follow.
Starting from next month, toll charges for all vehicles except motorcycles leaving Singapore through the Causeway will be raised to match the new Malaysian toll.
A new matching Causeway toll will also be implemented for all vehicles (except motorcycles) entering Singapore. There are no changes to the toll charges at the Second Link.
Cars leaving Singapore to enter Johor through the Causeway will have to pay S$3.80 -- a more than 300 per cent increase over the current S$1.20 (refer to above chart). In addition, the same car will have to pay another S$2.70 upon re-entry to Singapore, making it S$6.50 in toll charges alone -- and that's just on the Singapore side.
As it matches Malaysia's new toll charges for cars entering from Singapore and exiting Johor Bahru, double that amount and cars making a round-trip to JB and back have to pay almost S$13 in total toll fee charges -- almost five times the original S$2.30.
"Singapore has a long-standing policy of matching our toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia. In view of Malaysia’s recent revision in toll charges at the Causeway, from 1 October 2014, Singapore’s toll charges for all vehicles (except motorcycles)... will be increased," said the LTA in a Friday statement.
The LTA said Singapore will follow suit should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges.
It also explained that for foreign-registered cars, Singapore’s Causeway entry toll (i.e. entering Singapore from Johor) will be recorded in the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) toll system and displayed to motorists upon entry into Singapore. Payment will be deducted only upon leaving Singapore (whether through the Causeway or Second Link), together with the exit toll, Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges (if any). This will be the same as the existing practice for the Second Link entry toll.
Speaking in Parliament on the issue earlier this week, Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said that Malaysia had not informed the city-state’s government in advance of plans to increase causeway tolls, which were raised on 1 August this year, the same day that higher vehicle entry permit (VEP) fees earlier announced by Singapore kicked in.
She also said Singapore has not been informed officially by its Malaysian counterparts about Malaysia’s reported plans to implement its own version of the VEP fees.
“We very much would like our Malaysian counterparts to come to the discussion table and look at what are better ways to manage the issue of our causeway tolls,” she added.
“Our matching policy reflects the shared nature of the two crossings, where charges imposed by one party will have an impact on both countries” she said. "Should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges, Singapore will follow suit. This would be welcomed, I think, by both Singapore and Malaysia businesses on both sides of the Causeway."
Meanwhile, with regard to vehicle entry permits, she said Singapore’s government has contacted their Malaysian counterparts to seek details of their proposed entry fees and are awaiting their reply before deciding on a response.
On 1 August, Malaysia hiked its causeway toll fee for cars entering Johor from Singapore through the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex to RM9.70 ($3.78), up from the previous RM2.90. Cars travelling from Johor to Singapore previously paid no tolls, but are now subjected to a new toll of RM6.80 ($2.70).
The hike caused 200 buses from Malaysian transport companies to go on strike as drivers parked their buses in front of the CIQ complex in JB on 1 August, resulting in a major traffic jam. Thousands of workers and school children had to cross the 1-km Causeway stretch on foot that morning.
