• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

LC Paper No. CB(1)908/17-18(01) For discussion on 11 May 2018 Legislative Council Panel on Development and Panel on Home Affairs Joint Subcommittee to Monitor the Implementation of the West Kowloon Cultural District Project Integration and connectivity of the West Kowloon Cultural District with its neighbouring district PURPOSE This paper updates Members on the implementation progress of the transport infrastructure projects on linking the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) with its neighbouring district, and briefs Members on the revised design and funding proposal of the Artist Square Bridge (ASB). BACKGROUND 2. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) has briefed Members of the Legislative Council Joint Subcommittee to Monitor the Implementation of the WKCD Project (Joint Subcommittee) on the issues relating to the integration and connectivity of WKCD with its neighbouring district at various meetings since July 2013. 3. Since previous reporting to Members about Members’ concerns and areas of interest on some of the issues related to connectivity of WKCD, considerable progress has been achieved. This paper updates Members the latest development on these issues, including both land and marine transport as well as other transport facilities. 4. At the Joint Subcommittee meeting held on 21 April 2017, Members were briefed the funding proposal on the proposed ASB linking the Artist Square Development Area (ASDA) and the Elements and the proposed beautification works for the existing subway across the junction of Austin Road West and Canton Road. At the meeting, Members raised concerns about the design and estimated cost of the proposed ASB and requested a review on the ASB project. This paper will also brief Members the revised design and funding proposal of ASB. The funding proposal is at Annex A. PROGRESS UPDATE ON TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS Public Transport Planning and Operation Railway Connections 5. WKCDA has formulated a connectivity plan which makes WKCD accessible by various modes of transport. WKCD is connected to the other parts of Hong Kong through the extensive railway network with two nearby MTR Kowloon Station and Austin Station which are both within walking distance. Visitors are encouraged to use railway as the primary transport mode to access to and depart from WKCD. Based on WKCDA’s experience, during major events, supplementary express feeder bus services to nearby MTR stations could help crowd dispersion. In future, WKCDA will maintain regular dialogue with MTR Corporation Limited on the event schedules and the estimated number of visitors to facilitate train service deployment. Cross-boundary Connections 6. WKCD is accessible to various cross-boundary transport facilities. There are direct pedestrian linkages between WKCD and its adjacent public transport nodes including the West Kowloon Station (WKS) of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL), cross-boundary bus terminus at the Elements, Kowloon Station of the Airport Express, and China ferry terminal at the China Hong Kong City. By land, the Hong Kong Section of the XRL scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2018 tentatively will facilitate connection of WKCD to many cities in the Mainland via the National High-speed Railway Network. By air, WKCD is located within a five-hour flight radius reach of half of the world’s population and by sea, the nearby cross-boundary ferry services provide linkages between WKCD and Macau as well as nine ports in Guangdong Province including Nansha and Zhuhai. 2 Road-based Traffic 7. WKCD is conveniently served by road-based transport. For visitors accessing the western part of WKCD where the existing Nursery Park (or the future Exhibition Centre and the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM)), Art Park and Freespace are located, they can take the existing 20 day-time regular bus routes to/from the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon West and the New Territories with stops at the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC) Toll Plaza (see Annex B). Alternatively, they can choose to take the six bus routes and four green minibus routes at the Kowloon Station Public Transport Interchange (see Annex C) with destinations covering Kowloon East and New Territories East. 8. At the eastern part of WKCD where the Xiqu Centre is located, visitors are conveniently served by the existing 13 bus routes and four green minibus routes passing through Canton Road with stops near Austin Road West (see Annex D). 9. There is also a new bus terminus located north of WKS. To cope with the commissioning of the XRL, three new bus routes will be introduced. They will run between bus termini at Queensway and WKS, Kwun Tong Public Transport Interchange and WKS bus terminus and bus termini between Sheung Shui and WKS. In the vicinity of WKS, there is a new pedestrian footbridge and subway network linking WKS with adjacent developments, including the Xiqu Centre. Visitors can make use of the new bus services to access WKCD. Moreover, as part of the infrastructure works for WKCD, phase I – first construction package, an east lay- by of about 50 metres long has been built along Austin Road West near the Xiqu Centre and will be open soon. The lay-by is intended for use by public transport and the Government will work with public transport operators to divert some existing transport routes en-route this lay-by. Existing and planned bus/green minibus stops are shown in Annex E. 10. In the early phase when Freespace in the Art Park opens, a new green minibus en-route stop will be added on Nga Cheung Road to meet the traffic demand. Nevertheless, due to the overall limited passenger demand in the initial phase of development, it is difficult to support a separate regular public transport route. As an interim measure, WKCDA is prepared to extend the current contract-hired shuttle bus service between the MTR Kowloon Station and the Nursery Park on Saturdays, Sundays and public 3 holidays during exhibition period at the M+ Pavilion to serve visitors. During mega events, WKCDA would liaise with relevant government departments and bus operators/service providers to extend more public transport routes and / or introduce special services as appropriate. WKCDA will closely monitor the demand for public transport and road traffic situation in WKCD in various development stages and timely review and adjust the public transport services with the relevant Government departments to cope with the increasing demand. 11. Sufficient taxi stands and taxi pick-up and drop-off facilities will need to be provided to tally with the development in WKCD. WKCDA plans to provide such facilities at the east and west lay-bys, Art Park, M+, HKPM and at the underground road in Zone 2 of the integrated basement. The proposed taxi stands/pick- up and drop-off points in WKCD are illustrated in Annex F. Autonomous Vehicle Trial within WKCD 12. WKCDA is committed to providing cultural facilities that are accessible for everyone. As we move towards completing our venues, a new form of completely autonomous, zero-emission vehicle that will help visitors navigate the district has been on trial on a fixed route near the Nursery Park since July 2017, with a trained vehicle conductor who has overriding control of the vehicle at all times, including access to emergency buttons, stationed on board. Fully equipped with sensors to detect objects in its path, it offers an environmentally friendly mobility solution that interacts safely with pedestrians. As of April 2018, more than 2 000 visitors had participated in the trial ride and about 10% were surveyed. The survey results reveal that participants of the trials support WKCDA’s proposal to use autonomous vehicle to serve visitors within WKCD. WKCDA plans to extend the autonomous vehicle trial in phases within WKCD to cover the waterfront promenade and Art Park before confirming details of its service for the whole district. SmartBike 13. SmartBike is a bike sharing programme designed to complement the future provision of cycle paths in WKCD, and to encourage visitors to use bicycles as a sustainable means of getting around the Art Park and as an easy access to the cultural venues, cafes, restaurants and shops in the Park and along the harbourfront. The SmartBike service is operated by TWGHs 4 BiciLine Cycling Eco-Tourism Social Enterprise. About 50 bikes are provided for children and adults and two fixed automated bike rental service stations had been set up at the Nursery Park. The SmartBike service is well-received by the public. WKCDA will continue to improve the service by extending the bike service to the Art Park and launching the SmartBike mobile app service in the later part of 2018. WKCDA will also amend the bike route and locations of rental service stations to suit the development of the promenade, HKPM and Exhibition Centre. Private Car and Coach Parking Provision 14. According to the Development Plan of WKCD and the parking provision requirements stipulated in the Hong Kong Planning Standard and Guidelines, about 2 200 to 2 800 car parking spaces will need to be provided in WKCD. Distribution of the car and coach parking provision by areas is planned as shown in Annex G. Two new car parks will be open by the end of 2018 to meet the interim demand, i.e. about 50 parking spaces (temporary provision) adjacent to the Xiqu Centre and about 210 parking spaces below the Art Park adjoining the M+ building. To tie in with the development programme, another 2-level underground car park with about 150 parking spaces will be provided at Zone 3A by 2020, followed by about 50 and 230 car parking spaces (including temporary provision) to be provided at HKPM and Zone 3B respectively in 2022.

Load more

  33

Copy Link