XN000022-1995-02-28 — Page 3

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At the meeting this afternoon, the committee also agreed that a recommendation in support of a toll increase for the Tate's Cairn Tunnel should be put to the Governor-in-Council for approval.

The endorsed toll structure, to be effective in the first half of this year, will be as follows:

Vehicles

Existing Toll

Proposed Toll

Private cars, taxis &

motorcycles

$4

$6

Light buses & light

goods vehicles

$7

$10

Medium goods vehicles,

heavy goods vehicles &

buses

$8

$15

Extra axle

$5

$5

This was the first toll increase application by the Tate's Cairn Tunnel Company since the tunnel was opened to traffic in June 1991.

The endorsed toll structure was basically in line with the toll increase application of the company, except that the proposed new toll for private cars, taxis and motorcycles had been lowered from $7 to $6.

In making the recommendation, members noted that from a transport management viewpoint, it was important that the proposed toll increase would not significantly alter the traffic flow pattern, especially for private cars, between northeast New Territories and Kowloon and result in a major traffic diversion from the Tate's Cairn Tunnel to other alternate routes such as the Lion Rock tunnel.

The lowering of the proposed toll for private cars from $7 to $6 would bring the toll for private cars in line with the flat rate toll charged at the Lion Rock Tunnel, and eliminate the financial incentive for private car users to switch to the Lion Rock Tunnel.

End/Tuesday, February 28, 1995