Urban Transportation and Environmental Management in Singapore: Lessons for Other Cities

To combat the environmental problems and congestion which arise from urban transportation, both end-of-pipe interventions such as traffic management and tailpipe emission control and more upstream measures such as urban and land-use planning have been implemented in many cities around the world. Singapore, in particular, has achieved rare success in managing congestion and the environment amid high economic growth through integrated land use, transportation and environmental planning. This paper examines this success story in detail: the underlying situation; the major policy instruments designed to curb vehicle ownership and use, including quotas, fiscal control and road pricing; and policy impacts. The question “Why did it work in Singapore?” is addressed and the lessons of this success for other cities in the region and beyond are discussed.