ENG-2007 — Page 297

Transport 245

and Yuen Long commenced in early 2006 and the system will be in operation by late 2008. A project of replacement of ATC systems for Kowloon, Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin and expansion of the system to Tseung Kwan O commenced early this year. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.

At year-end, 1 732 signals at road junctions were in operation, 1 343 of which were linked to ATC systems.

To facilitate traffic monitoring and incident management, traffic control and surveillance (TCS) facilities, such as CCTV, emergency telephones and lane signals, have been provided in all tunnels and the Tsing Ma Control Area. To further enhance operational efficiency, more comprehensive TCS facilities such as variable message signs, variable speed limit signs and automatic incident detection systems have been installed, or are being retrofitted in some tunnels. The Tsing Ma Control Area and the new Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Kong Sham Western Highway. Comprehensive TCS facilities are currently being installed on Route 8 between Sha Tin and Tsing Yi, which is under construction.

Automatic Toll Collection

Automatic toll collection (autotoll) systems were first installed at the Cross- Harbour Tunnel and Aberdeen Tunnel in August 1993, and then subsequently in all tunnels and at the Lantau Link. The systems allow motorists with tags on their vehicles to drive through designated toll booths without having to stop to pay. Since October 1998, these autotoll systems have been unified so that a subscriber needs. only one tag to use all tunnels and toll roads fitted with the system. About 48 per cent (between January and October 2007) of motorists use autotoll when passing through the tunnels and toll roads.

Parking

On-street parking is provided where there is parking demand and where traffic conditions permit. At year-end, Hong Kong had about 17 900 metered parking spaces with electronic parking meters in operation. These parking spaces are managed and operated by a private operator.

The Government owns 14 multi-storey car parks plus the Sheung Shui Park-and- Ride Public Car Park and an open-air car park near the Lantau Link View Point, which together provide about 7 900 parking spaces. They are run by two private operators under management contracts with the Government.

In addition to government car parks, off-street public parking is provided by the Airport Authority at the Hong Kong International Airport, the Housing Department and The Link REIT in some public housing estates, and the private sector in multi- storey commercial/residential buildings and open-air public car parks. Park-and-ride. facilities are operated by MTRCL at Choi Hung Station on the Kwun Tong Line, at Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi Stations on the Airport Express, Kam Sheung Road Station on the West Rail Line, and at some commercial car parks located near Olympic Station on the Tung Chung Line and Hang Hau Station on the Tseung Kwan