XN000022-1975-05-21 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1975

SMOOTHER TRAFFIC FLOW IN CENTRAL

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THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERALL IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC FLOW WITHIN AND THROUGH CENTRAL DISTRICT AND FEWER DELAYS AS A RESULT OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME INTRODUCED IN JANUARY 5 THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. LI FOOK-WO IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

MR. ROBSON SAID TRAFFIC FLOW STUDIES WERE CARRIED OUT BEFORE AND AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME, IN NOVEMBER 1974, JANUARY 1975 AND FEBRUARY 1975.

ON CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HE SAID, JOURNEY TIMES FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC IMPROVED BY 25 PER CENT IN THE MORNING PEAK BUT DETERIORATED BY SIX PER CENT IN THE EVENING PEAK.

FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC, THE IMPROVEMENT WAS 41 PER CENT IN THE MORNING PEAK AND SIX PER CENT IN THE EVENING PEAK.

+THIS ROAD CARRIES MUCH MORE TRAFFIC THAN THE OTHERS PUT TOGETHER BUT IT SEEMS THAT VOLUMES MIGHT HAVE DECLINED AFTER THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED,+ HE SAID.

AS FOR QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, WHICH HAS BEEN ROUTED ONE-WAY, JOURNEY TIMES DURING THE MORNING PEAK FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC DETERIORATED BY 22 PER CENT BUT DURING THE EVENING PEAK THERE WAS A 17 PER CENT IMPROVEMENT.

AT THESE HOURS THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC IN THE ROAD FELL BY 20 PER CENT IN THE MORNING AND EIGHT PER CENT IN THE EVENING.

MR. ROBSON ADDED THAT IN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL ITSELF THE STUDIES REVEALED THAT JOURNEY TIMES FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC IMPROVED BY 22 PER CENT IN THE MORNING PEAK AND 10 PER CENT IN THE EVENING PEAK WHILE FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC, THE IMPROVEMENT WAS SIX PER CENT IN THE MORNING AND 13 PER CENT IN THE EVENING.

+AS THIS TRAFFIC IS NOW BASICALLY PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES, THE EFFECT HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY BENEFICIAL IN SPEEDING UP THE FLOW OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE CENTRAL DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.

HE RECALLED THAT THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME WAS ESSENTIALLY A PEAK HOUR BAN ON STOPPI G FOR ALL VEHICLES, OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES, IN DES VOEUX ROAD WESTBOUND FROM JACKSON ROAD TO JUBILEE STREET AND EASTBOUND FROM JUBILEE STREET TO PEDDER STREET.

THERE WERE ALSO MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO TRAFFIC ROUTING IN ICE HOUSE STREET.

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