ENG-2000 — Page 305

TRANSPORT

Traffic Control and Surveillance

The use of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for monitoring the traffic conditions of major highways proved to be successful. A total of 29 CCTV cameras are operating along Tuen Mun Road, West Kowloon Highway and North Lantau Highway and at Tuen Mun Ferry Pier. Additional CCTV cameras are being planned at public transport interchanges in Tsing Yi, Tung Chung and Chek Lap Kok and along roads leading to boundary crossings.

There were 696 sets of roadside emergency telephones installed along expressways and flyovers at the end of 2000 - 81 on Hong Kong Island, 171 in Kowloon and 444 in the New Territories.

Following the recommendation of the consultancy study to explore the feasibility of applying advanced technology to enhance the management of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), the Transport Department commissioned a preliminary project. feasibility study for establishing a traffic management and information centre (TMIC). Scheduled for operation in 2006, the TMIC will co-ordinate traffic control, incident management and information dissemination throughout the HKSAR, with a particular focus on the SRN.

A continuing expansion programme of traffic control and surveillance systems is being implemented to improve traffic management in the urban areas and the new towns. At the end of 2000, there were 1 537 signalised junctions, of which 1095 were under the control of Area Traffic Control (ATC) systems. Among these, 874 were on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon with 102 CCTV cameras in use for traffic surveillance. In the New Territories, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing have 131 ATC junctions and 24 CCTV cameras, while Sha Tin has 90 ATC junctions and 19 CCTV

cameras.

Expansion of the ATC and CCTV systems to Tai Po and North District was being planned to commence in 2001 for completion in 2003. This would cover 120 junctions with 30 CCTV cameras. Detailed designs for the ATC and CCTV systems in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long were being planned to commence in 2001.

Use of Information Technology in Transport

Reliable and comprehensive transport information enables commuters to make an informed choice of route and mode of transport resulting in more efficient road use, better traffic flow, greater road safety and improved accessibility.

As part of the Interactive Government Services Directory, transport information including any major road closure and real-time CCTV pictures showing traffic conditions on major routes and airport transport routes, is made available to the public on the Internet (http://www.igsd.gov.hk).

The Feasibility Study for Transport Information System was completed in March. The study recommended a system that would be based on the Geographic Information System and Internet technologies. It will provide a central data warehouse of transport information overlaid on digital base maps. Internally, this information infrastructure will enhance the business processes of the Transport Department. Externally, it will facilitate the development of various Intelligent Transport Systems such as a public transport inquiry system, car navigation and fleet management. In 2000, the Transport Department was undertaking preparation works with a view to starting the implementation works in 2001 for completion in 2003.

253