MASS TRANSIT STUDIES OFFICE
Director of Mass Transit Studies:
A.H. Wilkins, B.Sc. (Eng.), C. Eng., F.I.C.E., F.E.D.I., F.C.I.T., M.I.T.E.
Government Mass Transit Engineer:
K.R. Jenkins, B.Sc. (M.E.), B.Sc. (C.E.), M.I.C.E., A.M.I. Mun. E.
GENERAL
13.01
The Mass Transit Studies Office is responsible for servicing the planning and construction of the Mass Transit Railway (M.T.R.) and for monitoring the construction of the Modified Initial System to ensure that both Government's and private interests are protected. These responsibilities include the acquisition of land required for the railway, the assessment of statutory claims for compensation including the Advance Payment Scheme, the co-ordination of the many Government activities and public works directly associated with the project and the examination of all public and private development affected by the railway to ensure that no conflict exists with the programme for the planning, construction and operation of the railway.
13.02 The Office continued to participate in the tender assessment of the M.T.R. contracts for the Modified Initial System (M.I.S.). During the year a total of 11 civil engineering and 12 electrical/mechanical contracts were vetted and awarded, thus completing the letting of major engineering contracts for the M.I.S.
13.03 The work of the engineering section of the Department gradually changed in character from the pre-contract to the contract stage as progress on the construction of the M.I.S. advanced. Close liaison continued to be maintained between the Office, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (M.T.R.C.) and Government Departments through the various Committees set up for this purpose. These include the Government/M.T.R.C. Liaison Committee, the Station and Transport Integration Committee, the Land Acquisition and Co-ordinating Committee, the Traffic Management Group, the Utility Co-ordination Group, the Project Liaison Group, the Construction Management Committee, the Land Grants Committee and the Government/M.T.R.C. Policy & Publicity Committee. All these committees met at regular intervals to establish policies and procedures, and also to maintain a channel of communication at sufficiently senior levels to resolve problems arising from the M.T.R. works.
13.04
Numerous site-liaison group meetings were also convened at frequent intervals at Engineer level to resolve the day-to-day construction and traffic diversion problems and also matters concerning complaints from the public.
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