High rush-hour tolls 'will not put paid to clogged tunnels'

Congested roads during rush hours at harbor crossings will not simply "disappear" even with the "time-varying tolls" mechanism rollout starting December 10, the Transport Department said.

Its assistant commissioner, Leung Sai-ho, said unless tolls at crossings are increased to a level that is hard to afford, it will be hard for congestions to "disappear."

"Instead, we hope that the time-varying tolls mechanism can divert and suppress the traffic flow crossing the harbor, thus shortening vehicle numbers at tunnels and lowering the impact on the traffic nearby," Leung said.

Cross-Harbour Tunnel and the Eastern Harbour Crossing tolls will be increased from the current HK$30 to HK$40, while Western crossing will cost drivers HK$60 per trip during rush hours.

"The government's intention is to encourage citizens to take public transport instead of driving," Leung said.

After implementing the current toll structure across the three crossings, he said, the overall number of vehicles crossing the harbor remained similar, but the diversion of traffic among the tunnels was "very obvious."

"The traffic flow at Western crossing increased by over 10 percent, while traffic at Cross-Harbour Tunnel dropped, after around half of the taxis that used to take it opted to take Western instead," Leung said.

People, he said, might need time to get used to the new mechanism, as he expects traffic flow will keep fluctuating in the early stages after the mechanism is implemented.

"According to past experience, people should start adapting to the new mechanism in around half a year," Leung said.

In response to criticisms that the "transitional periods" arrangement between peak and non-peak hours - when tolls will rise or drop at a rate of HK$2 every two minutes - Leung said the arrangement is to prevent people from speeding or slowing down when tolls change.

"The amount [of the toll increase] is actually very small, ordering cold drinks with a set meal at restaurants nowadays costs HK$3. Therefore I think the toll level is absolutely acceptable," Leung said.

Another arrangement that drew fire was charging commercial vehicles, including minibus, trucks and bus, HK$50 across the board regardless of the hours.

Hong Kong Public-light Bus Owner and Driver Association chairman Cheung Hon-wah said minibuses currently only need to pay HK$10 to take Cross-Harbour Tunnel, but under the new mechanism, they will have to pay HK$30 extra.

"Minibuses cannot change routes to taking another tunnel, so an increase in tolls only means a hike in costs, and we might have to pass on the additional costs to passengers by increasing fares," Cheung said.

Leung said tolls at Cross-Harbour Tunnel have been "unreasonably low," and authorities are taking this opportunity to "even things up."