8
3.8 The size of the demand depends on the type of transport
provided and on frequency and fares. For example, MTR can claim a higher demand figure in the morning peak-hour between Causeway Bay and Admiralty if the Island Line (I. L.) were built because MTR would hope that passengers presently
on cross-harbour buses from Chaiwan, Shaukiwan and North Point
would transfer to I.L..
This demonstrates that there would
be an element of "unnecessary travel" between Causeway Bay and Admiralty. Those cross-harbour bus passengers are quite
happy to travel through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, but they
may not wish to alter their journeys to go by a combination
of feeder bus, I.L. and M.I.S. a journey which would
take them on three different vehicles instead of one through
cross-harbour bus.
3.9 Suggestions have been made that peak-hour demand will be even
higher if an underground railway is built as this would be
accompanied by property development which would lead to a
greater density of population in the Corridor than would be
the case through natural growth. It is for consideration whether it is desirable to affect the quality of life by
increasing the density in an already overcrowded corridor.
Two significant trends which will affect future demand are
the lower average family sizes and a larger average area of
living accommodation for the family.
3.10 Turning now to the planned express bus network for the new
Aberdeen Tunnel; once such a network of bus routes has been
established, it is highly likely that the passenger journey characteristics of the Island Corridor will change. This is
so because the majority of passengers who now travel from
the Eastern Corridor to the rapidly developing south side of the Island (e.g. Ap Lei Chau and Aberdeen) and who interchange
buses in Central because of the large capacity, better
frequency and less congested nature of the bus route network
through Central, will in future opt for the quicker and cheaper
new express bus routes through the Aberdeen Road Tunnel.
Thus, the demand along the Island Corridor through Central will decrease as a result of this change in travel patterns.
19.
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