************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Albert Ho and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, (in the absence of Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works) in the Legislative Council meeting today (May 17):
Question:
It has been reported that the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor will open shortly and, by then, the traffic flow of northwest New Territories will increase. On the other hand, as the daily traffic volume of Route 3 falls short of expectation, the Government is exploring with the operator of Route 3 the proposal to adjust its tolls downwards to attract more vehicles to Route 3. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) apart from the traffic management measures and road projects which have been proposed by the authorities, whether there are other options for relieving the pressure brought by the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor on the traffic of northwest New Territories;
(b) of the progress of the discussion between the authorities and the operator of Route 3 on the proposal to adjust its tolls downwards; and
(c) whether it will consider enacting legislation to allow the authorities to buy back Route 3 from its operator on grounds of significant public interests, at a price determined according to an independent and reasonable assessment by the Judiciary; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
According to the Northwest New Territories Traffic and Infrastructure Review (the Review) completed by the Administration, the existing major transport infrastructure in northwest New Territories, together with the road improvement measures implemented or planned, should be able to cope with the traffic demand in the region up to 2016, including the traffic to arise from the commissioning of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (the Corridor). The results of the Review indicate that there will be about 31,000 vehicle trips per day using the Corridor upon its commissioning. By that time, the volume/capacity ratios of the existing road networks in northwest New Territories, including Route 3 (Country Park Section), Tuen Mun Road and Lantau Link, will remain within the acceptable level of 1.2 during peak periods. The projected total traffic volume of Route 3 (Country Park Section) and Tuen Mun Road will remain at a level below their total design capacity of 250,000 vehicle trips per day. It is estimated that in 2016, there will be 60,000 vehicle trips using the Corridor per day, while the volume/capacity ratio of the existing major roads in northwest New Territories will remain below 1.2 during peak periods. The total traffic volume of Route 3 (Country Park Section) and Tuen Mun Road will also remain below their total design capacity.
The road improvement measures mentioned above include lengthening the bus bay along Tuen Mun Road southbound near Tseng Choi Street, improving the merging lane from Tuen Hi Road to the town centre section of Tuen Mun Road, and installing additional directional signs to enhance traffic flow at the town centre section of Tuen Mun Road. In addition, we expect that the widening works at Tuen Mun Road near Tsing Tin Interchange will commence in mid-2007. We have also largely completed the study on further improving the town centre section of Tuen Mun Road.
Meanwhile, we are actively exploring with the franchisee of Route 3 possible measures, including extension of the franchise period in exchange for reduced tolls, to attract more motorists to use Route 3.
We are not inclined to consider buying back the franchise of Route 3, as it involves substantial public expenditure and deviates from the principle of "small government, big market".
Ends/Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:30
NNNN
