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In response to media enquiries on a recent media report about the traffic impact on San Tin Tsuen to be caused by the proposed temporary boundary shopping centre, a spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (September 22) said the following:
The TD understands that residents near San Tin Tsuen are worried about the increase of traffic in the vicinity of Castle Peak Road (San Tin section) after the commissioning of the proposed temporary shopping centre at Lok Ma Chau. After having thoroughly examined the impact on nearby roads due to the anticipated traffic demand generated by the shopping centre, the TD considers that the additional traffic generated by the shopping centre would be within the designed capacity of the nearby roads.
The proposed shopping centre is located at the junction of San Tin Tsuen Road and Castle Peak Road (San Sin section), with its main entrance on San Tin Tsuen Road 30 metres north of the junction. According to the traffic impact assessment report, the current traffic flow out of San Tin Tsuen Road is about 120 per hour while the traffic flow into the road is about 150 per hour during evening peak hours. After the opening of the shopping centre, it is anticipated that the traffic flow out and into the road will increase to 240 per hour and 300 per hour respectively. The TD considers these figures reasonable.
There was a media report about an on-site traffic count stating that 207 vehicle trips were observed in 10 minutes, which substantially deviates from the aforementioned figures. The TD must point out that the location mentioned in the media report was Castle Peak Road (San Tin section) outside the shopping centre, instead of San Tin Tsuen Road. In fact, the existing traffic flow on Castle Peak Road (San Tin section) is about 1 500 per hour during the evening peak hours. Upon commissioning of the shopping centre, the TD anticipates that the traffic flow on Castle Peak Road will increase slightly and the increased flow will still be at an acceptable level.
With regard to transport services, the shopping centre applicant has proposed to provide a free shuttle bus service between the shopping centre and San Tin Public Transport Interchange (PTI). At the PTI, visitors to HK can take the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang Cross Boundary Shuttle Bus travelling to and from Huanggang in Shenzhen, while local visitors can interchange between various public transport services to and from Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Sheung Shui or other districts. Meanwhile, the applicant has also proposed a designated cross-boundary coach service via the Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point (BCP) to carry visitors directly between the shopping centre and Shenzhen Futian or Huanggang. This arrangement can minimise the demand for public transport services at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line BCP after the opening of the shopping centre. The applicant has to submit details of the proposed transport service plans for the TD's approval. The TD will scrutinise the information to ensure that the proposals are feasible and able to cope with the transport service demand generated by the shopping centre.
Ends/Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:19
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