tunnel
I am trying to figure out if the toll rise on the Eastern Tunnel is reasonable. Increase from $15 to $25 is 67% - prima facie unreasonable as compared to the comsumer price index.
I tried to look at some other places where there is a cross-harbour tunnel.
Sydney, for instance, has a 2,260m harbour tunnel. Toll fee is A$3 (US$2.3);
There is a "cross-city" tunnel between New Jersey and New York called Lincoln Tunnel. Its length is 2,500m and the toll fee is US$5 (peak hours, and US$4 for off-peak). But bear in mind, this tunnel is cross-state.
HK - Eastern Tunnel’s length is 1860m charges HK$25 (US$3.2); Western Tunnel’s length is 2000km charges HK$40 (US$5.1).
US$2.3/2260 : US$5/2500 : US$3.2/2000 : US$5.1/2000
It seems to be a bit expensive but not exaggerated.
However, I don’t believe that the purchasing power are the same in all three cities. Comparing the big-mac index (Dec 2004), USA is $3; Australia is $2.46; HK is $1.54. HK’s tunnel fee should be no more than HK$20 by comparing the purchasing power.
That is, the central tunnel.
