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Following is a question by the Hon James To and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (March 28):
Question:
In the Nathan Road Road Safety Improvement Plan published at the end of 2005, the Government put forward three concepts, which included prohibiting all vehicles except buses from using Nathan Road, so as to improve the situation of pedestrians and vehicles competing to use the road. I have learnt that after consulting the public, the Transport Department had indicated that it would revise the Plan, which included restructuring the relevant bus routes, and would consult the public afresh on the revised Plan. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the progress of formulating the bus-route restructuring proposal (including when it is expected to consult District Councils, and whether the restructured routes can be implemented within this year), and whether it will revise the original targets set for the restructuring of the bus routes (such as reducing the number of buses using Nathan Road by 100); and
(b) the progress of revising the Nathan Road Road Safety Improvement Plan, and when it will consult the public on the revised Plan?
Reply:
Madam President,
Since the Transport Department (TD) reported to the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council on the revised strategy for improving road safety at Nathan Road in September 2006, it has started studies on the improvement plans in accordance with the strategy.
On the rationalization of franchised bus routes, we have been reducing the number of buses through re-organising bus routes, particularly those operating at busy roads or those with relatively low utilisation, in order to improve traffic conditions and reduce roadside emissions. TD and the bus companies are now consulting the relevant Traffic and Transport Committees of the District Councils on a new round of bus route development plans. TD will review the details of the plans and make adjustments as necessary in the light of the views collected during consultation, changes in traffic conditions and passenger travelling patterns. Hence, the actual number of buses reduced upon implementation of the plans varies each year. With the implementation of various bus route rationalisation plans, the number of franchised buses was reduced from about 6 400 in late 2002 to about 5 850 in late 2006. We will continue our efforts in this regard so as to further reduce the number of buses.
Apart from that, the revised strategy also includes measures to simplify traffic control at road junctions and improve pedestrian crossing facilities. After consultation with the Yau Tsim Mong District Council, TD has planned to commence works for extending the pedestrian footbridge on Mong Kok Road to the west of Nathan Road in early 2008. TD is also finalising various specific and detailed proposals on widening of pedestrian crossings and improvements to pedestrian subways, and will conduct consultation shortly. The proposals include:
(a) to commence works for widening the pedestrian crossing at Nathan Road near Argyle Street in mid-2007;
(b) to cancel the bus-only right-turning from Nathan Road northbound to Mong Kok Road in order to reduce the situation whereby pedestrians and vehicles compete for use of the road; and
(c) to commission an engineering consultant to study the feasibility of installing lifts in the pedestrian subway at Soy Street.
Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:06
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