XN000022-1990-03-15 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1990

THE

EXISTING

ARRANGEMENTS

MEMBERS GENERALLY AGREED THAT

FOR HANDLING TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AS THE PUBLIC WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PRESENT CHANNEL OF TRANSPORT COMPLAINT AS WELL AS THE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED OVER THE YEARS AND IS. USING THE SYSTEM SATISFACTORILY.

MEMBERS ALSO NOTED THAT THE TCU PROVIDED THE TAC WITH USEFUL PUBLIC FEEDBACK FOR DELIBERATION OF TRANSPORT MATTERS.

THE TAC RECONSIDERED THE TOLLS FOR GOVERNMENT TOLL TUNNELS IN THE LIGHT OF A RE-ASSESSMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION. AS A RESULT, MEMBERS RESCINDED THE RECOMMENDATION MADE AT THE MEETING OF TAC ON DECEMBER 7. 1989 THAT UNIFORM TOLLS SHOULD BE CHARGED AT ALL GOVERNMENT TUNNELS, AND MADE A NEW RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNMENT.

MEMBERS NOTED THAT THE NEW RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE MAINLY ON TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT GROUNDS.

WITH THE REVISED TOLLS FOR LION ROCK TUNNEL AT $6. WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE NEW SHING MUN TUNNEL WHICH APRIL, 1990 AND THE TAI PO ROAD WHICH HAS BEEN WIDENED.

MOTORISTS OPENS IN

ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT TUNNELS WOULD BE CHARGED AT $3 PER TRIP. . THIS REVISED RECOMMENDATION WOULD REDUCE REVENUE TO BE PAID BY MOTORISTS BY $40 MILLION. THE TRAFFIC AT LION ROCK TUNNEL SHOULD BE REDUCED TO 95,000 IN 1991 BEFORE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL OPENS AND 91,000 IN 1992 AFTER TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL OPENS. THE DESIGN CAPACITY OF LION ROCK TUNNEL IS 80,000 VEHICLES A DAY.

WITH THE REDUCTION OF VEHICLES

USING THE LION ROCK TUNNEL,

BETTER UTILISATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WOULD BE ENCOURAGED AS TRAFFIC AT THE TUNNEL WOULD BE IMPROVED.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS IN LINE WITH THE POLICY OF USING TOLLS TO REGULATE TRAFFIC. TOLLS CAN BE INCREASED OR REDUCED UNDER THIS POLICY.

MEMBERS WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON THE RECENT COMPLAINTS BY TAXI DRIVERS AND OPERATORS OVER THE IMPACT OF FUEL TAX INCREASE ON THEIR INCOME.

THE ADMINISTRATION ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD TRY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESSING OF THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATION BY TAXI OPERATORS. THE TAC WILL MEET WHEN NECESSARY ΤΟ CO-ORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS.

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