XN000022-1983-05-05 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1983

MR DURANT WAS BORN IN 1928 AND EDUCATED AT BRYANSTON, DORSET. HE WAS A CONSERVATIVE AGENT FROM 1952 TO 1962, AND WAS THE NATIONAL ORGANISER OF YOUNG CONSERVATIVE FROM 1962 TO 1967. HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL FROM 1968 TO 1974 AND WAS THE SECRETARY OF THE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES ASSOCIATION FROM 1972 TO 1974. HE HAS BEEN THE SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR OF AUDIO VISUAL AID CO. SINCE 1970.

MR DURANT IS MARRIED.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY MEASURES ACHIEVE THEIR AIM

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BUS JOURNEY TIMES AT MANY LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY HAVE BEEN IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES.

THIS WAS REVEALED IN A REPORT PUBLISHED RECENTLY BY MOTT, HAY AND ANDERSON FAR EAST, A CONSULTANT FIRM, TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES THAT WERE INTRODUCED.

THE COMPANY WAS APPOINTED IN MARCH 1981 IN A JOINT EFFORT WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO EXAMINE 52 PROBLEM AREAS

IDENTIFIED BY THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES WHERE OPERATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED DUE TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

OF THESE AREAS, 32 WERE LOCATED ON THE MAINLAND AND 20 ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

IN MANY OF THESE AREAS, THERE IS FREQUENTLY A CONSIDERABLE LACK OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AND ROAD CAPACITY, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON MAXIMISING THE SCOPE OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TO EFFECT THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

AS A RESULT, A NUMBER OF AREAS TO BE STUDIED WERE GROUPED TOGETHER DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE OBVIOUS INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF THE AREAS.

THIS RESULTED IN THE DETAILED DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF 17 PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES ON THE MAINLAND AND SEVEN ON THE ISLAND WITHIN A 21-MONTH PERIOD.

IN SUMMING UP, THE REPORT SAID, THE SAVINGS IN BUS PASSENGER HOURS ARE IN EXCESS OF 12 MILLION PER ANNUM AND THE BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED TO BE OVER HK$100 MILLION PER ANNUM. +

IN INTRODUCING THE SCHEMES. DIFFERENT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED TO SUIT DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS SO AS TO ENSURE ALL ROAD USERS BENEFITED FROM THE MEASURES ADOPTED.

/FOR EXAMPLE,