Accordingly, the timing of the development of the several transport modes in the proposed mix set out below has regard to this commercial constraint, viz:
(a)
(b)
Roads
Traffic management schemes in the Corridor are already underway including one bus-only lane scheme in King's Road due for completion by the end of 1980 and another to be introduced in Connaught Road Central in 1981. The tram track would, over the next two years or so, be provided with a central fence along much of its length to prevent pedestrians from slowing down the service and endangering their own lives, whilst a small, raised kerb or white line would similarly be provided along much of the system to prevent motorists from impeding the progress of the trams. By 1984, an area traffic control system should be in operation in the Corridor. By 1985, the Island Eastern Corridor Road should have been completed to Tai Koo Shing at a cost of about $900 million (at 1980 prices). The road should have been extended as far east as Shau Kei Wan by 1988 at an additional cost of $90 million. As regards linking this fast, 6- and, in part, 8-lane road to Central District, present intentions are to build an elevated road along Connaught Road Central and Gloucester Road by 1990 at a cost of about $750 million (at 1980 prices).
Bus Development Plans
In the next six years, public passenger transport de mand may be expected to grow by 600,000 boardings a day in the Corridor, that is, from 1.6 million in 1980 to about 2.2 million boardings a day in 1986. Over the next two years or so, the trams should be provided with much of the segregation referred to earlier but this would increase their capacity by about 100,000 boardings a day only. Thus increased bus capacity provided, in part, by bus -only lanes and, in part, by additional vehicles would have to meet the other additional 500, 000 boardings a day. After that, the Island Line would cope with additional demand. So, by 1986, the size of the bus fleet operating in the Corridor should have reached a plateau from which it would rise very little for some time to come. From 1985, the buses would be deployed on the Island Eastern Corridor Road and, later, on the elevated roads linking it to Central District as express services; on present routes as local services; and, from 1986, as feeder services for the Island Line. When the Island Line opened, express bus services would suffer a considerable decline in demand.
G.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL