ENG-2003 — Page 312

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TRANSPORT

Centre showing the available examination slots in the next five months, assisting the public in making appointments.

Traffic Control and Surveillance

The use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras continues to provide real-time traffic information to government departments for monitoring traffic and allowing them to react quickly in case of a traffic disruption or an emergency. There are 146 cameras installed in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan and another 48 cameras are operating along Tuen Mun Road, West Kowloon Highway, North Lantau Highway, San Tin Highway and Fanling Highway and along roads leading to boundary crossings.

The Transport Department commenced the construction of a Traffic Control Centre (TCC) in mid-2002 for completion by early 2004. The TCC will accommodate Area Traffic Control (ATC) systems in the new towns, the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre (ETCC) and the monitoring system of the Tsing Ma Communication Centre (TMCC) to facilitate traffic management, incident management and dissemination of information. This project is progressing satisfactorily. The major component systems, including the ATC, ETCC and TMCC, have been operating in the TCC since October. Their respective CCTV facilities will be integrated by early 2004.

The ATC system is being expanded to 122 signalised junctions in Tai Po and North District. This project will also include 30 CCTV cameras. Delivery of the system components will commence in early 2004 for testing and system commissioning later in the year.

At year-end, 1 660 signalised junctions were in operation, and 1 156 of them were controlled by ATC systems.

Use of Information Technology in Transport

Reliable and comprehensive transport information enables commuters to make informed choices of routes and modes of transport resulting in more efficient use of road space, smoother traffic flow, enhanced road safety and improved accessibility. A contract for the implementation of the Transport Information System (TIS) was awarded in May. Upon completion, the TIS will become a central data warehouse which will provide more transport information to the public and enhance the operation of the Transport Department and other departments. It will also facilitate the development of services in the private sector such as car navigation and fleet management. The system is scheduled for commissioning in phases from mid-2004. Under the Journey Time Indication System, journey time indicators are provided along the approach roads to the three cross-harbour tunnels on Hong Kong Island to inform motorists of the estimated travel time to the Kowloon exits, so that they may make a more informed choice concerning the route to be taken. The first indicator on Gloucester Road, located near Revenue Tower, was put into service in June and the remaining two on the Island Eastern Corridor and the Canal Road Flyover were commissioned in December.

Automatic Toll Collection

Automatic toll collection systems (autotoll systems) were installed at the Cross- Harbour and Aberdeen Tunnels in August 1993, Lion Rock Tunnel in August 1994,