XN000022-1996-08-27 — Page 4

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Feasibility study on inter-district bus-only lanes

The Transport Department today (Tuesday) commissioned Atkins Haswell Consultants to carry out a $4.6 million feasibility study on inter-district bus-only lanes.

The study is prompted by the Report of the Working Group on Measures to Address Traffic Congestion published in November 1994.

Analysis of the responses to the report reveals strong public support for more extensive public transport priority schemes.

A spokesman for the department said: "As existing bus-only lanes are usually confined to a local district, journey time for related bus routes can only be marginally improved.

"We therefore propose to introduce inter-district bus-only lanes covering major traffic corridors in the territory to further enhance the efficiency of bus services."

The consultant will assess the feasibility of inter-district bus-only lanes on major corridors which rely mainly on bus services.

They will also make recommendations on the design of bus-only lanes and the complementary traffic management schemes.

The feasibility study will take about 17 months for completion in early 1998.

The following major traffic corridors have been pre-selected for the study:

Aberdeen - Wan Chai - Central;

Kwun Tong - To Kwa Wan/Hung Hom - Tsim Sha Tsui;

Tseung Kwan O - Kwun Tong;

Sheung Shui - Sha Tin - Tsim Sha Tsui;

Tuen Mun - Kwai Chung - Tsim Sha Tsui; and

Tsing Yi - Kwai Chung.

"The two corridors between Aberdeen and Central; and between Kwun Tong and Tsim Sha Tsui will be the initial focus of the study.

"One of which will be identified for early implementation in mid-1997," the spokesman added.

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