Stopping activities of RS to be rationalised

As part of the ongoing programme to alleviate congestion in Central and Wan Chai districts, the Transport Department will implement a package of measures to rationalise the stopping activities of the Residents' Services (RS) in phases starting from March 20.

Speaking at a press conference on the measures, Principal Transport Officer (Urban), Mr Louis Hung, said congestion in the central business districts had been serious.

Since 1998, the Department had implemented a series of measures to improve traffic flow including reduction of stoppings of franchised buses and cancellation and diversion of franchised bus routes, he said.

"However, traffic condition on the major roads between Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay is still unsatisfactory. Congestion is found at certain section of roads caused by the activities of non-franchised buses, most of which coaches operating residents' services.

"We have also observed that these RS coaches carry residents in the New Territories and many of them do not operate the routes and observe the stoppings authorised by the Transport Department," Mr Hung said.

After consultation with the Police and the RS operators, the Transport Department has developed a package of measures which will be implemented in three phases, as follows:

	From March 20 onwards, all RS operators have to display on their buses a signboard which carries the route number and the destinations;
	From May 8 onwards, all RS operators have to display the permit issued by the Transport Department which stipulates the routeing, frequency as well as setting down and picking up points. Newly designed RS stops will be erected on which the route numbers allowed to use the stops will be displayed.
	In the final phase, bus clearways will be designated on congested roads to ban unauthorised RS stoppings in the evening peak hours. The restrictions will mean that only authorised RS buses which are issued with permits could stop. The implementation date of this phase is still being finalised.

Mr Hung said the measures would help regulate existing RS operation and enable the Police to identify and take action on illegal activities.

Unlike franchised buses, Residents' Service provided a direct bus service from the place of residence to down town areas and it was not intended that they should be provided with stops at regular intervals like buses, Mr Hung said.

"In view of the heavy traffic in Central and Wan Chai, there will be little room in future to allow new RS going into these districts," Mr Hung said.

"However, the Transport Department will favourably consider new RS which feed the railway stations in Kowloon and the New Territories in order to encourage efficient use of railways as the backbone of the transport system."

As the package of measures include rationalisation of RS stoppings, passengers would have to walk a longer distance to and from the new designated stops.

Mr Hung said the community at large would be benefited from the measures as traffic condition would improve and bus journey time would be reduced.

The Transport Department will closely monitor the scheme and make suitable adjustments if and when necessary.

Tuesday, March 7, 2000