Feasibility study on Electronic Road Pricing
The Transport Department today (Tuesday) commissioned WSA-Hyder, a consortium of Wibur Smith Associates Limited and Hyder Consulting Limited, to carry out a $30.8 million feasibility study on the implementation of electronic road pricing in Hong Kong.
The study is prompted by the recommendations of the Report of the Working Party on Measures to Address Traffic Congestion published in November 1994.
A spokesman for the department said: "The Working Party considered pricing the use of roads as an efficient, equitable and flexible way of dealing with traffic congestion in the long term.
"Instead of restraining the growth in the number of vehicles, road pricing helps improve efficiency of road use by charging variable fees for entry into congested areas or the use of overloaded roads at busy hours."
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The proposals put forward by the Working Party are generally supported by the
The consultant commissioned will examine the need and practicability of introducing electronic road pricing in Hong Kong.
They will also make recommendations on the essential component, cost effectiveness and the possible consequences of such a system, giving due consideration to issues concerning transport planning, system technology and public acceptance.
"A field trial will be conducted in early 1998 for about six months to confirm the reliability of the system," the spokesman added.
The feasibility study will take about 27 months for completion in 1999.
A public consultation exercise on the findings of the study will be carried out before finalising the recommendations.
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