TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1990
NOT
THE REVISED MAXIMUM FARE SCALE WILL TAKE EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 30 THIS YEAR BUT CHARGING FARES UP TO THE MAXIMUM CEILING IS AUTOMATIC. EACH INDIVIDUAL OPERATOR WISHING TO INCREASE THE FARES FOR A ROUTE WILL HAVE TO APPLY FOR APPROVAL FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE TAC ALSO DISCUSSED THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FIRST AREA PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK EFFICIENCY STUDY (APTNESS) WHICH WAS AIMED AT DEVELOPING BUS NETWORKS IN A MANNER MORE SENSITIVE TO EFFICIENCY.
THE CONSULTANCY STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT COVERS NORTH EAST NEW TERRITORIES, INCLUDING SHA TIN, TAI PO AND THE NORTH DISTRICT.
EXTENSIVE TRAVEL SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT COVERING ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT MODES SERVING THE STUDY AREA. AN ATTITUDINAL SURVEY WAS ALSO CONDUCTED TO OBTAIN THE VIEWS OF PASSENGERS ON THE QUALITY OF EXISTING SERVICES AND ΤΟ BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPECTATIONS REGARDING THE STANDARDS AND DELIVERY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES.
RESPONDENTS REACTED
POSITIVELY TO THE CONCEPT OF A TRUNK-FEEDER SYSTEM, UNDER WHICH PASSENGERS WITHIN AN AREA ARE COLLECTED BY SHORT FEEDER SERVICES AND CARRIED TO A CENTRAL INTERCHANGE FOR SWITCHING TO LONG-HAUL TRUNK SERVICES.
PACKAGE,
BASED ON THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND AIDED BY A COMPUTER THE CONSULTANTS HAVE EXAMINED A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVE NETWORK STRATEGIES FOR THE STUDY AREA.
THE TRUNK-FEEDER NETWORK WAS SEEN TO BE POTENTIALLY MORE EFFICIENT. THE AVERAGE FARE UNDER THIS SYSTEM IS ESTIMATED ΤΟ BE SIMILAR TO THAT UNDER KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY'S ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PLAN NETWORK BUT BUS OCCUPANCY IS MUCH HIGHER, MEANING A SAVING IN COSTS.
IT ALSO REQUIRES FEWER BUSES TO AND ENTAILS THE SHORTEST ROUTES, AND KOWLOON.
MEET PEAK PASSENGERS DEMAND HAS FEWER VEHICLES ENTERING
MEMBERS ENDORSED THE STUDY'S RECOMMENDATION THAT A PILOT SCHEME TESTING PUBLIC ACCEPTABILITY OF THE TRUNK-FEEDER CONCEPT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN MA ON SHAN FOR SIX MONTHS, STARTING FROM THE OPENING OF TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL.
TAC NOTED THAT KMB HAD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE APTNESS STUDY AND WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS; THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WAS ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDY'S
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE APTNESS STUDY WOULD BE PRESENTED TO SHA TIN, TAI PO AND NORTH DISTRICT BOARDS.
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