XN000022-1994-06-10 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1994

EFFICIENCY OF FREIGHT TRANSPORT INDUSTRY TO BE IMPROVED

RESULTS OF A STUDY ON THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT INDUSTRY HAVE RECOMMENDED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INDUSTRY AND TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF GOODS VEHICLE OPERATIONS ON THE COMMUNITY.

THE FREIGHT TRANSPORT STUDY, COMMISSIONED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TRANSPORT PANEL WAS CONSULTED TODAY (FRIDAY) ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THE STUDY HAD IDENTIFIED SIX KEY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND RECOMMENDED 28 MEASURES TO ADDRESS THEM.

THE KEY ARBAS ARE:

* ADVERSE IMPACT OF OVERNIGHT GOODS VEHICLE PARKING;

* CONGESTION CAUSED BY DAYTIME GOODS VEHICLE PARKING

LOADING/UNLOADING;

* INEFFICIENT PORT OPERATIONS;

* CONGESTION

FACILITIES;

AND

RESULTING FROM LACK OP CONTAINER STORAGE

* INEFFICIENCY AND CONGESTION ARISING FROM THE RESTRICTION

CROSS-BORDER FREIGHT MOVEMENTS; AND

* THE ADVERSE IMPACT OF GOODS VEHICLE

COMMUNITY.

ON

OPERATION ON THE

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE GROUPED INTO THRER STAGES FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

STAGE ONE WILL INVOLVE SHORT TERM MEASURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN 1994 AND 1996. THEY ARE TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING PROBLEMS OF GOODS VEHICLE PARKING, AS WELL AS CONGESTION AT THE ROAD BORDER CROSSINGS AND IN THE CONTAINER PORT AREA.

FOR LIGHT FOR GOODS

"IN THE SHORT TERM, MORE ON-STREET PARKING SPACES GOODS VEHICLES AND MORE SURFACE PARKS ARE RECOMMENDED VEHICLES. THE STUDY ALSO RECOMMENDS 24-HOUR OPERATION AND EXPANDING THE PROCESSING FACILITIES AT THE BORDER CROSSINGS, HE SAID.

to

STAGE TWO MEASURES WILL ADDRESS ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAINER STORAGE AND WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE VARIOUS PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

"THE

RECOMMENDED KEY MEASURES, TO BE IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN 1997 AND 1999, INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF GOODS VEHICLE PARKING GARAGES, LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE PARKING SPACES IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF SOME NEW MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS AND MORE LAND AT SUITABLE LOCATIONS BACK-UP," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FOR PORT

/STAGE THREE