Right, sorry, my brain got stuck on the previous version of our in-game rules. 😅
What I described above is how things used to work, but in the latest version the merge cost only applies when a land is about to become level 100 (or greater).
Merges below level 100 are free.
I have to admit that previously we were primarily counting on driving, public transport or cycling to play, and only recently started focusing on making the game "walkable" as well (distance between resources got reduced etc.).
Adjusting the travel point formula at this late stage may be problematic (I just checked and the most recent 50 active players all have above 4,000 unspent travel points, and top 20 of them have more than 10k, so there doesn't seem to be a universal shortage), but I'll certainly have a think about other possible incentives for those who do not drive or cycle! 😉