Restricted zones to further regulate RS stopping activities

Drivers of buses without permit or granted no authorization will be prohibited from picking up or dropping off passengers in three newly designated bus restricted zones in Central and Wan Chai daily between 4 pm and 7 pm starting from May 29, 2000.

The restricted zones lie on: -

	Connaught Road Central westbound between Jubilee Street and Man Wa Lane,
	Hennessy Road westbound between Fleming Road and Fenwick Street, and
	the layby on Harbour Road eastbound outside the Harbour centre.

Announcing details of the scheme today (May 26), a Transport Department spokesman said that this was the third phase of a scheme the department launched to regulate the Residents' Services (RS) in Central and Wan Chai Districts.

"In other words, stopping activities of franchised buses and RS buses which have been authorized and designated with stoppings will not be affected by this new scheme," said the spokesman.

"The objective of the measure is to better regulate traffic flow and minimise obstructions caused by buses during the evening peak," he said.

"We look forward to seeing improved traffic just as what we have observed early this May when the bus stop rationalization, the second phrase measure of the RS scheme, was implemented.

" Traffic in Wan Chai and Central districts, particularly, in Gloucester Road in Wan Chai during the morning peak hours and in Connaught Road Central westbound during the evening peak period has been improved since then.

In the first phrase, RS operators are required to display on the windscreen of the bus a standard yellow plate showing the route number and destination of the services.

"Road signs will be put up and road markings provided in the restricted zones, and the department will be monitoring the traffic situation closely," he added.

End/Friday, May 26, 2000

NNNN