The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (June 25) on the Government's report on the effectiveness of implementing time-varying tolls at the three road harbour crossings (RHCs).
The Transport Department has been closely monitoring traffic conditions following the implementation of the time-varying tolls, including traffic conditions in Central and other districts. With the co-operation of motorists and adjustments to their commuting patterns, the new tolls have preliminarily yielded positive results, and have achieved the policy objectives of suppressing and diverting cross-harbour traffic flows during peak hours, rationalising traffic and better utilising tunnel capacity. The traffic congestion at the portals of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT) and the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) in the past have been significantly alleviated. During peak hours, the queues at the CHT and the EHC have been generally reduced by more than 1 kilometre and 0.5km respectively, while the traffic flow at the Western Harbour Crossing has increased. Non-cross-harbour traffic near the portals of the RHCs has also significantly improved. The Government will continue to implement other complementary measures to smoothen traffic at the tunnel portals and surrounding areas.
The TAC Chairman, Professor Stephen Cheung, said, "Members are delighted to note that the new tolls at the RHCs have achieved the policy objectives of rationalising traffic and better utilising tunnel capacity, thus bringing benefits to motorists, the public transport and commercial vehicle trades, cross-harbour bus passengers, and the community as a whole. Members also expect that the Government will continue to monitor traffic conditions of the RHCs and review the effectiveness of time-varying tolls, as well as adopt multipronged measures to address traffic congestion in the district."
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