Hong Kong’s tunnel tolls need to change before the city grinds to a halt
Bernard Chan says policymakers and the public must overcome interest groups’ objections to reform of the pricing system, before traffic overwhelms the whole tunnel system in the next three to four years
These jams are about 3km long. The result is that a trip, taking maybe 10 minutes if the route were clear, takes more than 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the Western Harbour Tunnel, from Western to West Kowloon, has no queues and no delays.
Further north, in Kowloon, there is a similar discrepancy. The Lion Rock Tunnel linking Sha Tin to Wong Tai Sin has a 1.8km queue, on average, in the morning, taking up to 17 minutes to clear. The Route 8 tunnel, from Sha Tin to Cheung Sha Wan, has no queues or delays. Part of the problem is that the most popular tunnels are the most centrally located, and therefore most convenient for many commuters.
Tolls at Cross-Harbour and Lion Rock tunnels may increase to ease Hong Kong jams
The problem is made worse by pricing. Logically, the links with the highest demand should have higher tolls than the others (or at least the same). Instead, the most popular, crowded tunnels are the cheapest. Even motorists who would have a quicker journey using the other tunnels use them.
At some point, this has to change. The whole tunnel system will be overloaded by 2021 unless the pricing structure changes.
The Transport Department’s toll rationalisation study is impressively detailed and examines traffic flows and pricing at all six cross-harbour and Kowloon tunnels. Not surprisingly, it calls for changes in the tolls. The report goes over assorted options – some of which have been proposed in the past. These include a variety of combinations of decreasing and increasing different tunnels’ tolls. They also include ideas like full electronic toll payment and even waiving all tolls.
More breaks and countdowns on traffic lights needed to improve working conditions of Hong Kong bus drivers, union says
The situation is complicated by the ownership structure of the tunnels. However, the report assumes that public subsidy of a franchisee would be feasible in principle. The recommendation is that tolls be adjusted so private cars and taxis have a greater incentive to use the less-crowded tunnels. This is about changing the relative charges – so, in theory, it could mean toll reductions rather than just increases. The key would be having a situation where it is cheaper to use the less-crowded options.
The report mentions some other possibilities, such as peak charging for rush hours, or different charges on Sundays. But the core guideline is to match toll adjustments with objective measurements, like journey times. The ideas still require consultation and legislative action.
People-first transport system eludes Hong Kong even as other cities race ahead
The big question is: will politicians and the public accept them? Interest groups will create a huge fuss. However, the proposals will not affect tolls for buses or minibuses, or for vehicles transporting goods. Most of the travelling public will benefit from less congestion, even if certain interest groups oppose the changes. Judging by past attempts to sort out this problem, it will fail. Yet it can’t, because these key routes will otherwise face gridlock at some point. The tunnels are not the only choke points. They feed into areas where the roads and intersections approach full capacity. Road network expansion, like the opening of the Central-Wan Chai bypass in about a year’s time, can ease congestion in specific areas. So the traffic moves more quickly through that area – but where does it end up?
Faster lane needed in Hong Kong tunnel tolls saga
The response to the Transport Department’s proposals will show whether we as a community can face the challenge and do it.
Bernard Chan is convenor of Hong Kong’s Executive Council
