238 Transport
widen the section of the Tolo Highway between Island House Interchange and Tai Hang (Stage 1) and the section of Fanling Highway between Tai Hang and Wo Hop Shek Interchange (Stage 2) from the existing dual three-lane to dual four-lane. The Stage 1 road scheme was gazetted in October 2007. Construction is scheduled to start at the end of 2008 for phased completion by 2013.
• Trunk Road T4 is a proposed dual two-lane carriageway, which will connect Sha Tin Road with the future Trunk Road T3 and Shing Mun Tunnel Road, and will serve as a bypass to Tai Po Road (Sha Tin section) and other district. distributor roads at Sha Tin Town Centre. Implementation of the project will be reviewed after the commissioning of Route 8 and Trunk Road T3.
Tsing Ma Control Area
The Tsing Ma Control Area, opened to traffic in May 1997, is a 21-kilometre expressway network comprising the Tsing Kwai Highway, Cheung Tsing Tunnel, Cheung Tsing Highway, North West Tsing Yi Interchange, Tsing Yi North Coastal Road, Lantau Link, Ting Kau Bridge, part of the North Lantau Highway and Ma Wan Road. The control area is operated and maintained by a private management contractor.
The Lantau Link has a one-way toll collection arrangement. Vehicles travelling on the Lantau Link are charged twice the single journey toll when they return from Lantau Island or enter Ma Wan. The double toll ranges from $20 to $80 for different types of vehicles. A daily average of 56 930 vehicles used the Lantau Link in 2007.
Public Transport
Rail, bus, ferry and other public transport services offer Hong Kong commuters a good choice of different transport modes at reasonable fares and different levels of comfort, speed and convenience.
Railways
Railways form an important part of the public transport system. They account for some 35 per cent of the total daily public transport volume. The merger of the MTR and KCR systems were implemented on December 2, 2007, to provide an integrated rail system and service network to the public. The rail merger improves the overall efficiency of Hong Kong's railway system through achieving economies of scale, attaining synergy through better interface and streamlining of the operations of the MTR and KCR systems. The integration of the two railway systems generates synergies to support reduction in rail fares including the abolition of the second boarding charge. It also brings about better interchanging arrangements, thus improving passenger convenience and travelling time.
As a result of the merger, the MTRCL is now responsible for the daily running and maintenance of both the MTR and KCR systems, which include the Kwun Tong Line (Tiu Keng Leng-Yau Ma Tei), Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan-Central), Island Line (Chai Wan-Sheung Wan), Tung Chung Line (Hong Kong-Tung Chung), Tseung Kwan O Line (Po Lam-North Point), East Rail Line (East Tsim Sha Tsui-Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau), West Rail Line (Tuen Mun-Nam Cheong), Ma On Shan Line (Wu Kai Sha-Tai Wai) and