Appendix 1

Transport Strategy

Better integration of transport and land use planning

1.1        The interactive relation between land use and transport planning is well recognised. Better integration of land use and transport planning can reduce travel demands, thus alleviating the pressures placed on the transport system and the adverse impact on the environment. It can also avoid the conflict between some types of land use and transport activities. Initiatives under this objective include:

• Siting more intensive developments and major employment centres within easy pedestrian reach of rail stations and major public transport interchanges.

• Making provision for comprehensive grade-separated walkways at the early stage of the land use planning and wherever possible including the requirement in planning briefs/development parameters and land leases for such provision. This is to promote walking, to reduce the number of short motorised trips and to enhance road safety.

• Pedestrianising selected roads to facilitate pedestrian movement.

Better use of railways

1.2        Railways, being an environmentally friendly and efficient mass carrier, will form the backbone of the passenger public transport network. This will be supplemented by other public transport modes. Special attention will be given at the land use planning stage to providing better pedestrian connection to developments, adequate feeder routes and transport interchange facilities to enable the railways to perform as the trunk carrier.

1.3        Future strategic developments (including major residential, commercial and retail centres) should be located around rail stations as far as possible. This will reduce the reliance on road-based transport and enhance the efficiency of the rail network.

Better public transport services and facilities

1.4        To enhance the capacity and efficiency of existing road space, the public are encouraged to make use of public transport services rather than private vehicles. It is essential to co-ordinate and integrate railways as the backbone of the system with other public transport services in order to minimise wasteful competition. Franchised buses and other public transport modes will play a prominent role in providing services to areas where the demand cannot be met by the railways. Initiatives under this objective include:

• Convenient and comfortable interchange facilities at strategic locations, especially rail stations, should be provided.

• Park-and-ride facilities should be planned at rail stations and major transport interchanges on the fringe of urban areas.

• Parking provision at developments, especially residential developments, around rail stations should be minimised where appropriate.

• Kiss-and-ride facilities should be planned at rail stations and major transport interchanges to encourage the use of public transport services.

Better environmental protection

1.5        Traditional road-based transport modes represent a constant source of noise and air pollution. With development in technological know-how and good transport planning, the Government aims to reduce their impact on the environment as far as possible. Initiatives under this objective include:

• According priority to rail.

• Exploring new environmentally friendly transport modes e.g. trolley bus, travellators, people movers, etc.

• Promoting walking and cycling as a mode of transport. To plan around the pedestrians in new towns and redevelopments by providing suitable pedestrian and cycling facilities and in built-up areas by enhancing the facilities as far as practicable.

• Improve the environmental performance of existing modes of transport by adopting modern design and equipment as much as possible.

• Introducing more park-and-ride schemes, kiss-and-ride facilities and pedestrianisation areas, etc.