Public transport services adequate on first school day

Public transport services were generally adequate to the needs and traffic was generally smooth today (September 4) in the morning of the first school day.

The Transport Department (TD) activated at 6 am the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre (ETCC), which was also activated on last Saturday (September 1) and yesterday (September 3), to monitor transport and traffic conditions and to maintain close liaison with parties concerned. About 50 TD staff were assigned to major school areas to monitor the level of public transport services provided as well as general traffic condition at congestion-prone spots and to report observations back to the ETCC at regular intervals.

Deputy Commissioner for Transport (Operations and Management), Mrs Dorothy Chan, observed this morning the arrival of students at Pier 6 and Pier 7 of the Outlying Islands Ferry Pier in Central and the queuing situation at North Point Ferry Pier Bus Terminus. She also talked with students and public transport operators' staff in order to have a better understanding of the traffic situations.

Speaking at North Point Ferry Pier Bus Terminus to round up the transport and traffic conditions of this morning, Mrs Chan said: "According to the report gathered by ETCC from our district observers from 6 am this morning, the traffic situation over the territory has been generally normal, and no major accidents which disturbed the normal traffic operation had happened."

She added that the Department had earlier reminded the students to schedule the time of schooling well, as well as the nanny van and school bus operators to pay attention to the traffic arrangement, in order to ensure smooth operation on the first school day.

About 50 additional buses and 3 additional ferries had been prepared to meet any sudden upsurge of student demand during the morning peak hours.

End/Tuesday, September 4, 2001