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Government wants more cars for HK Island

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Government wants more cars for HK Island

    Waiting 21 years for the department responsible for road building and tunnels to advise on what to do with the tunnel tolls

    Govt proposes tunnel toll tweaks to cut jams - RTHK

    The proposed scheme from previous studies will increase the total number of cars using the tunnels to get to Hong Kong Island and giving public money to CITIC and other investors of the WHT. Win Win

    MandM! and MerMer like this.

  2. #2

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    Agree with this.... Central cross harbour tunnel is a nightmare and causes backups on route 5. Thus even if you wanted to consider taking eastern tunnel it's a hassle to get there. Getting from Kwun tong or Kowloon bay to tst/Kowloon West is a pain too because of backups to central cross harbour tunnel.

    I don't understand why there isn't an off peak rate for west tunnel. Given its so empty at times yet I guess they'd take a cut on profits so they wouldn't want to discount it.

    In the end they will just raise the rates. Doubt they would discount them but would be nice. Tai lam tunnel is way overpriced (don't see how it's anymore special than lion rock tunnel at $8)--need a third option from NT west to Kowloon. Lion rock and shing mun tunnels are decent and savings on petrol and distance. Tate's cairn tunnel is too much then defeats most from going to east tunnel again. Given traffic from hk east to west--most would just prefer to save on tunnel fees and wait for centra cross harbour tunnel.

    Basically the entire roadmap discourages going to eastern tunnel that's why it's cheap at $25 and empty whilst central cross tunnel is only $20 yet easily 20-35 minute delays. Causeway bay too frequently used and the central access point to south island causing delays in all directions. Need another access point to the south island.

    Another big issue is small bumper scratches and the drivers acting like queens waiting for the police thus blocking everyone. Simply suggest small bumper scratches with no injury to take photos and move on or move out of the way. Everyday there's an accident and causes huge backups.

    **The standard for holding a driver license should be higher.


  3. #3

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    bump up the CHT fees to 40-60 for private cars and reduce WHT to like 25-30 for private cars.

    WHT should be bought back by the HK govt, its crazy for them to have a gazetted toll of $225 for private cars and after govt subsidy its still $65. govt is paying 160 difference for each car to WHT wtf.


  4. #4

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    I don't know why they don't just force all drivers to get the autotoll cards. Just absorb the fee in the toll charges.

    Its the stopping, having to find cash, receiving the change, driving off again etc. which is causing longer jams than necessary. I'm sure its not healthy either for the attendants working in those booths to be breathing in car fumes all day

    HK_Katherine and TheBrit like this.

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by chuckster007:
    bump up the CHT fees to 40-60 for private cars and reduce WHT to like 25-30 for private cars.

    WHT should be bought back by the HK govt, its crazy for them to have a gazetted toll of $225 for private cars and after govt subsidy its still $65. govt is paying 160 difference for each car to WHT wtf.
    I guess you need to define the purpose of the toll. At the moment the toll has only one purpose which is to recover money for either paying back capital costs and or operating costs. For the BOT schemes this is a legal requirement,

    The role of law makers should be to write good laws not set the price of a toll.

    The purpose of a toll should be
    - Recover money for either paying back capital costs and or operating costs
    - Maintain congestion free operation (greater than 30Km/h)

    The operators of the tunnels should be allowed to decide the peak, shoulder and valley pricing with rules based around pollution levels and maintaining free flow.

    The whole report lacks a clear purpose and just seems a fudge not to offend any vested interest group.