5.35
Whilst this Study has not set out to examine bus routeings in
detail, some further comments are appropriate. The advantages
of a bus priority route along Queensway can be further enhanced
by designating Queen's Road East as a bus priority route, with
traffic management schemes devised to eliminate other through traffic. This road could then extend the bus priority route to Morrison Hill, where services to the Aberdeen and Cross Harbour Tunnels and Causeway Bay would diverge. Local traffic diverted from Queen's Road East would use Johnston Road where extra capacity would be available due to the removal of the tramway. Longer distance traffic from the Aberdeen Tunnel to Central would divert to the Canal Road Flyover and Gloucester Road. The proposed Queensway to Queen's Road East underpass could be constructed as a bus only facility to provide one bus "gate" for the traffic management scheme.
5.36
The performance of the bus services is important to the success of the overall transport strategy in the corridor. In particular, the requirement for priority access/egress from the Waterfront Road in Central has been noted already, and examination of the design of these facilities is recommended as a high priority.
Public Light Buses
5.37
"
The Study has been predominantly concerned with the development of a public transport strategy for the corridor. Viewed in terms of public transport carriers, PLBs are the least efficient users of road space. Although private transport modes (private cars and taxis) may be said to be even less efficient, it must be remembered that the CTS demand forecasts used in the Study include heavy restriction on the ownership and use of cars, as well as high taxi fares. Private transport is therefore assumed to be restricted.
68