XN000022-1991-01-08 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1991

TAC DISCUSSES TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FOR CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL

OPTIONS

THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TODAY (TUESDAY) DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE MEASURES TO TACKLE THE CONGESTION PROBLEM AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND WAS BRIEFED ON THE 1991-95 FORWARD PLANNING PROGRAMME (FPP) OF KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY,

THE TAC MEMBERS WERE INFORMED THAT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES WERE INTRODUCED TO ALLEVIATE THE CONGESTION AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL IN 1988, INCLUDING LANE MARKING, BUS STOP RELOCATIONS BAY WIDENING.

AND BUS

RELIEF BUT

HOWEVER, THESE MEASURES HAD PROVIDED SOME MARGINAL PROVED INSUFFICIENT TO CONTAIN CONGESTION MAINLY BECAUSE THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE TUNNEL HAS ALREADY BEEN EXCEEDED.

MEANWHILE, THE TOTAL VOLUME OF TRAFFIC IN THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL HAS INCREASED FROM 118,000 VEHICLES A DAY IN SEPTEMBER 1989 ΤΟ

122,

,000 VEHICLES A DAY IN DECEMBER 1990.

THIS INCREASE IS THE RESULT OF THE RELEASE OF SUPPRESSED DEMAND AND A SHIFT FROM FERRY TO TUNNEL TRAFFIC UPON THE OPENING OF THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING.

THE PRACTICAL CAPACITY OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL IS 100,000 VEHICLES PER DAY.

TRAFFIC USING THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING HAS INCREASED FROM 19,000 VEHICLES PER DAY IN SEPTEMBER 1989 WHEN IT FIRST. OPENED то 38,000 VEHICLES PER DAY IN DECEMBER 1990.

DESPITE SUCH GROWTH, THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING IS STILL VERY MUCH UNDER-UTILISED. THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE SLIGHTLY UPON THE OPENING OF THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL IN MID 1991 WHEN AN EXTRA 4,000 VEHICLES ARE EXPECTED TO PASS THROUGH IT.

MUCH EFFORT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO IMPROVING ACCESS TO THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SUCH AS PUTTING UP MORE TRAFFIC SIGNS AND IMPROVING THE ACCESS ROADS. HOWEVER, ONLY 38,000 VEHICLES ARE USING IT EVERY DAY.

AT THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY, MEMBERS ADVISED THAT THE AIM OF ANY NEW MEASURES SHOULD BE TO FACILITATE THE EASIER MOVEMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT PASSENGERS, MAXIMISE THE USE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS THE EASTERN ISLAND CORRIDOR AND SECOND CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL, AND REDUCING THE ECONOMIC DISBENEFITS ARISING FROM CONGESTION ON OUR ROADS AND ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

THE COMMITTEE ASKED THE ADMININSTRATION TO PROVIDE MORE DATA AND INFORMATION SO AS TO ENABLE THEM TO TENDER THEIR ADVICE ON THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS AT A FUTURE MEETING.

THE COMMITTEE WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY'S FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND ITS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

/THE PLAN