“Proposed Tram and Pedestrian Precinct in Des Voeux Road Central”

Summary Report April 2014 總結報告 Proposed Tram & Pedestrian Precinct in Des Voeux Road Central 建議德輔道中行人及電車專用區 Leading Organizations: Collaborative Organizations: Funding Provided by: The Hong Kong Institute of Planners Acknowledgements Over the past year, we are grateful for the help of many individuals and organiztions who have contributed to the fruition of this project and in bringing us closer to our dream of a walkable Hong Kong city centre. Contents We would like to sincerely thank the WYNG Foundation and ADM Capital Foundation for their generous funding to support the technical assessments of this project. The technical Chinese Summary Report 總結報告(中文版) pi-ii assessments significantly reinforced the merits of this project. We would like to sincerely thank the volunteers of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners 1 Introduction p1-2 members who have contributed their time and expertise to this project, including: Dr. Peter 2 The Problems p3 Cookson Smith, Mr. Ian Brownlee, and Ms. Yuen Yee Pong. We also would like to thank 3 The Opportunities p4 the HKIP Young Planners Group Committee, who devoted their time, design and graphic 4 Air Quality p4-5 skills to creating outstanding urban design proposals. This includes: Mr. AJ Yum Chan, Mr. p6-11 Benson Poon, Ms. Caroline Chan, Mr. Edwin Tang, Ms. Kate Kwok, Mr. Mathew Fung, Mr. 6 Urban Design p12-23 Chi Keong Fung, and Ms. Stephanie Chan. 75 TheTransport Total Picture and Traffic p24 We would like to sincerely thank Civic Exchange for volunteering their time, support, 8 Implementation p25 office space and valuable advice to this project. Their team includes: Ms. Yan-yan Yip, Mr. 9 Conclusion p25 Simon Ng, Ms. Iris Chan, Mr. Keith Chan, Ms. Olivia Chen, Ms. Caroline Cottet, Mr. James Cunningham, Mr. Martin Lai, Mr. Curtis Mak, Mr. Joe Pang, and Mr. Hilings Yip. Appendices We would like to sincerely thank the volunteers of the School of Energy and Environment, Appendix 1: Air Quality City University of Hong Kong research team who helped conduct the air quality assessments, Appendix 2: including: Mr. Ka Lok Chan, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Gali, Mr. Yang Hong, Miss Sabrina Yanan Appendix 3: Urban Design Proposal Jiang, Ms. Flora Chui Fong Lau, Mr. Wubulihairen Maimaitireyimu, Ms. Agata Rakowska, Traffic Review Mr. Li Sun, Miss Viki Wai Ting Tong, Dr. Thomas Townsend, Dr. Dane Westerdahl, Mr. Ka Chun Wong, and Mr. Fenhuan Yang. 德輔道中行人及電車專用區建議總結報告(中文版) 1. 背景 3. 空氣質素 1.1 香港規劃師學會聯同香港地下鐵路公司，由MVA 提供交通 3.1 城市大學對該區進行了空氣污染研究，並與MVA 的交技術支援，於2000 年向政府建議，將德輔道中劃為行人及電通數字作比較，以找出問題的徵結。車專用區。該建議雖然可行，但未有實行。 3.2 數字顯示，區內整體上的空氣污染嚴重，而德輔道中 1.2 鑑於中環的空氣污染一直未有改善，而不久將來多項鐵路的空氣污染比起干諾道中及皇后大道中更為嚴重。雖然干及公路陸續完工，為中環提供了一個改善環境的機會。學會遂諾道中的交通流量遠比德輔道中為大，但由於干諾道中的於2013年初，與環境局聯絡，重提建議。此報告根據最新的政風速遠較德輔道中及皇后大道中為高，加上前者路面遠比府及其他的基建項目，更新有關的資料及數字，並由城市大學後兩者寬闊，以及德輔道中及皇后大道中兩傍高樓林立，提供空氣污染研究，與及MVA的交通研究、思匯政策研究所好密不通風，因而産生了峽谷效應，令污染物難以散去。的支援及 WYNG Foundation 及 ADM Capital Foundation 提供的資助下，對畢打街至摩利臣街的一段德輔道中以及鄰近範 3.3 此外，將週末與平常日的空氣污染與交通車輛組合的圍進行研究。數字作出比對後，發現污染的源頭主要來自柴油巴士及柴油商業車輛。鑑於德輔道中的峽谷形態，除了將車流轉移到干諾道中以減輕空氣污染的問題外，應該沒有其他途徑 2. 研究區的問題及機遇可有效地改善德輔道中的空氣質素。 2.1 研究區雖然是香港的核心金融及商業中心，但一直都是空氣污染最嚴重的地區之一，加上交通擠塞，缺乏綠化及行人設 4. 交通研究施等，令到這商業中心的形象受損。 4.1 研究顯示，德輔道中沿路沒有直接的車輛出入口。西 2.2 另一方面，中環灣仔繞道、地鐵港島西線及南線分別於未行的交通以巴士及電車為主，私家車輛及運輸車輛較少；來兩至三年完工。這些項目將可為巴士及其他車輛的路線重組東行的交通，私家車及運輸車輛的流量頗高。此外，嚴重提供機遇，釋出空間並保留德輔道中作電車及行人之用，以改的問題亦包括交通擁塞及人車爭路等。善該區的空氣質素與環境。 i 4.2 建議的行人及電車專用區，可分期進行。先導計劃範圍 5.3 建議故此包括運用富地區特色的綠化及景觀設計，將不同涵蓋摩利臣街至永和/林士街的一段德輔道中：西行線將摩利的活動點連結起來，締造更有生氣的街道環境，為這個商業中臣街至禧利街的路段轉為電車專用區，而禧利街至永和街的心注入生機/新鮮空氣，亦為市民提供優質的活動空間。這些一段則只供電車及巴士之用；東行線由摩利臣街至急庇利街建議，可透過政府及小型工程項目進行。香港電車有限公司亦的路段轉為電車專用區，而急庇利街至林士街的一段則只供表示支持有關綠化電車軌道的建議，並會負責執行。電車及巴士之用。現有的東行巴士路線大致上不受影響。先導計劃可以即時推行，期間亦可以同時進行改善行人設施的工程。 6. 總結 6.1 建議的願景是為改善香港的核心商業區-中環的環境。德 4.3 待2017年中環-灣仔繞道工程完成後，一些駛經中環的交輔道中的空氣污染問題，嚴重影響健康，由於峽谷效應，令污通可以轉用繞道，屆時德輔道中及干諾道中的交通流量將會染物難以散去。建議希望透過交通措施與改道，解決空氣污染下降。以下的建議便可以推行：在部份的干諾道中設立東行的源頭，保障市民健康。再利用區內不同的特色，以綠化及景巴士專線、巴士轉乘、將電車專用區伸延至畢打街、綠化電觀設計方案，提供高質素的公共空間，改善區內的街道環境，車軌以及改善街道環境等。令中環與其金融及商業中心的形象相符，而不是長期高佔最嚴重空氣污染的榜首地區。 5. 景觀設計 6.2 為了確定建議能有效實行，建議採取有系統的分階段實施 5.1 研究區內的兩旁被高樓所包圍，路面排放的污染物不能策略，讓交通網絡能有效地應付改變的流量，以達到逐步改善散去，沿路景靚乏善足陳；加上擠迫的行人路、整段路缺乏的目標。樹木，夏天行人需要在烈日下，忍受炎熱的氣溫，在污染的路旁活動。如現時的空氣質素、道路環境和行人配套不能得 6.3 計劃的落實，對營商環境和社會上下、不同人仕均有裨以改善，行人健康受影響，確是一個不宜久留的地方。益。但能否實行，有賴政府的全力支持及公眾的參與，所以建議必需建立有系統的公眾諮詢程序。希望這計劃最終也能與海 5.2 藉著這個改善空氣質素的機會，沿路的環境亦可作出相外的成功例子一般，在得到大眾支持下成功實行。應的改善措施，提升形象。區內大致上可以分為三個特色小區：畢打街一帶為核心商業區、串連海傍購物區及南面蘇豪 (有關建議的詳細資料，可上 www.hkip.org.hk 閱讀) 區的城中綠洲（前中環街市）為區內著名歷史建築物、西港城一帶則為較具傳統特色的行業。 ii 1 Introduction 1.1 In 2000 the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP), in collaboration with the MTRC and with technical assistance from MVA Hong Kong Limited (MVA) put forward a proposal for converting Des Voeux Road Central (DVRC) into a tram and pedestrian precinct. The proposal was accepted as technically feasible, but not implemented by Government. (Figure 1) 1.2 In early 2013, HKIP approached the Environment Bureau to see if the proposal could be revisited, as Central remained one of the areas of highest air pollution in Hong Kong. The completion of major highway and railway infrastructure between now and 2021 made a reassessment timely, as opportunities were going to arise which would enable significant improvements to be made to Central District. Figure 1: A drawing of the 2003 proposal vision 1.3 This study therefore re-visited the 2000 proposals and expanded them to look at air quality and both existing and planned transport and traffic issues. The scope of our current study looks at the section of DVRC between Morrison St. and Pedder St. (Figure 2) Detailed assessments and proposals have been prepared by City University on air quality, MVA on traffic and transport, and HKIP on urban design enhancements, with the support from Civic Exchange and generous funding of the WYNG Foundation Limited and ADM Capital 1 1.4 The study concludes that in the next few years there is a unique opportunity arising from the massive current public investment in transport infrastructure to significantly improve Central and to make it a high quality environment in terms of air quality, accessibility, and transportation. The proposed scheme would enable a high quality, pedestrian-friendly, and ‘greener’ Central, and provide a better place in which to work and do business. 2 Figure 2: The Study Area 2 The Problems 2.1 The main problems identified are as follows: • The roadside air quality monitoring station for Central has consistently recorded high levels of pollution mainly arising from vehicles. Mobile air quality monitoring in the study area has shown that this problem is widespread; and a reduction in vehicle numbers is necessary; • Traffic congestion is creating delays to all forms of public transport other than the MTR, and this needs to be addressed to improve accessibility to the Central Business District. Traffic that flows through DVRC needs to be reduced and many of the buses using this road need to be diverted; (Above) Photos showing examples of some of the problems. • There is not one tree in DVRC and not enough greening, contributing to a hot and suffocating urban environment; • There is an absence of universal access for the elderly and disabled; • Tall buildings with continuous facades lining both sides of the road forming a canyon-effect that traps pollutants and • There is inadequate space for pedestrians and servicing limits sunlight; activities, creating congestions in the narrow footpaths and forcing people onto the road carriageways; • It is crowded and unpleasant to walk along the generally narrow and unsheltered pedestrian walkways; • A lot of dangerous jay-walking occur at junctions; • Street furniture and pavements do not have a consistent • There is little street furniture and landscaping; design theme, where seats are not available, which make it unwelcoming and disconnected; • There is no overall character or an identity that reflect this part of the city as a major international financial business district. • Aside from a few planters on railings, no greening is provided This does not reflect Hong Kong’s self-proclaimed image as along DVRC; “Asia’s World City”. 3 3 The Opportunities 4 Air Quality 3.1 A number of factors present potential opportunities to address the prevailing problems: • The Central-Wanchai Bypass (CWB) and Lung Wo Road past Tamar, will relieve traffic from the existing road system allowing changes in function to the existing streets; • Part of the existing ramp from the elevated road to Connaught Road Central (CRC) next to the Harbour Building, will be demolished as part of the CWB project, providing space which could be used as a bus priority route and for better public transport interchange facilities; • For the MTR, the West Island Line (WIL) will be operating by 2014 and the South Island Line (SIL) by 2015 providing improved railway access. As a result, bus routes will be reorganized to integrate with the new railways; • Traffic from DVRC can be diverted to CRC and bus services enhanced; Figure 3: Scope of air quality measurements • Main traffic in DVRC could be just trams and some bus A road-side and street-level air quality assessment was carried out routes; 4.1 by the CityU team, then real-time traffic data (provided by MVA) was linked with the air quality data and it clearly revealed the sources of • The air quality would be improved by diverting the polluting air quality problems in the area (Appendix 1). Total of four sampling traffic including buses. days were investigated with three weekdays of 31 July, 3 August and 27 October and a proceeding Sunday of 28 October,

Load more