ENG-2003 — Page 314

TRANSPORT

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road safety. In addition, a slogan will be selected to illustrate and supplement the Road Safety Vision.

Road safety campaigns continued to play an important role in reducing traffic accidents. The main theme chosen for 2003 was 'Smart Driving'. The message was conveyed through television and radio announcements, printed materials and on the Internet.

Transport and Environment

In planning for transport infrastructure projects, the Government is guided by sustainable development principles. It strives to ensure a better integration of transport provision with land use planning so as to reduce the number of motorised trips generated. It is also the Government's policy to accord priority to railways as the backbone of the transport system. Four railway lines or extensions will come into operation before 2008.

Less reliance on road-based transport will alleviate the pressure on transport systems and, in turn, lessen the impact on the environment. At the same time, the rationalisation of bus routes and stops and implementation of pedestrian schemes will continue. These will help reduce the impact of vehicle emissions and noise pollution on pedestrians.

Since late 1998, about 2 300 daily bus trips have been eliminated from the busy corridors on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island through service cancellation, frequency reduction, route truncation and amalgamation. In Nathan Road in Kowloon, about 360 daily bus trips have been eliminated since August 2002, enhancing the efficiency of bus operations. Bus stops have also been rationalised to reduce the number of stops on busy corridors.

The environmental impact of new transport projects both during the construction and the operation phases is also carefully examined. Environmental mitigation measures are implemented where necessary to minimise the environmental impact of transport projects. These include landscaping, artificial contouring of surrounding hillsides, depressed roads, laying of noise-reducing road surfacing and the installation of noise barriers or other forms of noise insulation.

To improve the environment for pedestrians, more pedestrian schemes and walkway systems are being planned and implemented. These help minimise conflict between pedestrians and vehicles, reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as providing a more pleasant environment for pedestrians. A consultancy study on the detailed design of a pedestrian walkway system in Wan Chai, planned in conjunction with the pedestrian scheme for the district, commenced in 2003.

In 2002 and 2003, pedestrian schemes have been implemented in a number of streets including Paterson Street, Great George Street and Lee Garden Road in Causeway Bay; Canton Road, Hankow Road, Lock Road, Ashley Road and Ichang Street in Tsim Sha Tsui; Fa Yuen Street and Shan Tung Street in Mong Kok; Queen's Road Central, Chiu Lung Street, Lan Kwai Fong and D'Aguilar Street in Central; Johnston Road in Wan Chai; Kweilin Street and Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po; Temple Street and Nanking Street in Yau Ma Tei, and Stanley Market Street, New Street and Main Street in Stanley. In addition, the Mong Kok Road-Sai Yee Street Footbridge System, a private-public partnership project, was successfully commissioned and opened to the public in January. Situated in the heart of one of the busiest shopping areas in Mong Kok, this 360-metre elevated covered walkway segregates vehicles and pedestrians,