TAC briefed on installation of new parking meters and latest proposal for Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme
******************************************************************************************
The Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) was briefed today (December 21) on the Government's plan to install a new generation of parking meters and the latest proposal for the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme.
The TAC members were first briefed on the Government's plan to install a new generation of on-street parking meters starting from 2019-20, as set out in the Chief Executive's 2017 Policy Address. The Transport Department (TD) proposed that the new parking meters should support payment of parking fees through multiple means, support remote payment of parking fees through mobile applications, and be equipped with vehicle sensors to detect whether a parking space is occupied and provide real-time information to assist motorists in finding vacant parking spaces.
As of September 2017, some 9 800 parking meters accepting only Octopus card for payment of parking fees were in use across the territory to control about 18 000 on-street parking spaces. These parking meters, which were installed in 2003-04, will soon approach the end of their serviceable life and will need to be replaced.
The TAC members noted that the Government has proposed to increase the maximum fee for use of on-street metered parking spaces, which has remained the same since 1994. The proposal is to increase the maximum fee, which is currently set at $2 per 15 minutes, to $4 or $5 per 15 minutes. This is in line with one of the recommendations of the TAC in its Report on Study of Road Traffic Congestion in Hong Kong, published in 2014. The TD also considers that this could discourage motorists from circulating or double parking on roads waiting for metered parking spaces, as well as discouraging prolonged parking.
The TAC Chairman, Mr Larry Kwok, said, "Members welcome the functions of the new generation of parking meters and support the Government's proposal to increase the maximum fee for use of on-street metered parking spaces."
On the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme), Members noted that the Government proposed to expand the coverage of the Scheme to cover non-franchised buses providing residents' services (RS) and employee's services (ES), red minibuses (RMBs) and kaitos, subject to the condition that the operators concerned agreed to comply with some prescribed operational requirements. This would benefit the commuters who have to rely on the four public transport services mentioned above as the only or major transport modes for daily commuting. The Government estimates that the annual subsidy amount would be around $2.3 billion, and that over 2.2 million commuters would benefit from the Scheme.
Mr Kwok said, "Members are pleased to note that the Government has listened to and considered public views on expanding the coverage of the Scheme with a view to benefiting more commuters. Members understand that the Government proposes that the RS, ES, RMB and kaito operators who are interested in joining the Scheme in future must sign a contract with the TD and install an Octopus payment system, as well as comply with the prescribed operational requirements. The Government will implement a series of monitoring measures to ensure that public funds are properly used under the Scheme and risks of abuse are minimised as far as possible."
Members noted that the Government would discuss with the trade and finalise the relevant details with a view to striking a balance between the trade's flexible operation mode and appropriate monitoring.
Mr Kwok said, "Members learned that the Government had earlier submitted the discussion paper on the Scheme to the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council and arranged to discuss the item at the meeting in early January 2018. The Government will then seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council as soon as possible, with a view to implementing the Scheme within a year after obtaining funding approval."
Ends/Thursday, December 21, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:45
Issued at HKT 17:45
NNNN