WTSDC Paper No. 66/2016 (13.9.2016)

Progress Report of the 1st Meeting of the Working Group on Traffic Planning in under the Fifth-term Council Traffic and Transport Committee held on 20 July 2016

Proposal on Widening of (WTSDC T&TC WGSPK Paper No. 2/2016)

In view of the fact that San Po Kong was undergoing a gradual transformation into a business area, it was anticipated that its pedestrian and vehicular flows would continue to rise; Members urged the government departments to look into measures that would improve the situation of traffic congestion in San Po Kong, and suggested the departments concerned to study the proposal to widen Choi Hung Road.

2. Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) expressed that the Stage 3A Infrastructure Works would involve the widening of certain roads in San Po Kong and the construction of a vehicular and pedestrian tunnel across East. Besides, CEDD would also enhance the junction at Choi Hung Road and Sze Mei Street and the traffic light signal at the junction of Choi Hung Road and Tai Yau Street to ease traffic congestion there.

3. The Housing Department (HD) disclosed that the traffic impact assessment conducted in relation to the Comprehensive Development Area (CDA) indicated that Choi Hung Road (eastbound) was mainly affected by buses and minibuses boarding and alighting. HD planned to establish two alighting/boarding bays along Choi Hung Road for buses and minibuses in order to improve the traffic conditions on Choi Hung Road.

4. As the Kai Tak River improvement works was carried out by the Drainage Services Department (DSD) at the moment, a ban of left turn movements for vehicles at the Junction of Tseuk Luk Street and Choi Hung Road was currently in place. The Transport Department (TD) was in discussion with DSD on lifting the ban as soon as possible at the road section concerned in order to enable vehicles to access various locations at San Po Kong without having to pass through Tai Yau Street.

5(6)_DCPR[WG-TPSPK](1)(66-2016)-e 1 5. Members were aware that different departments would embark on a number of projects with a view to improve traffic conditions in San Po Kong, yet held the view that the relevant department should examine the proposal to widen Choi Hung Road to meet future traffic demand. Members requested CEDD and HD to submit the vehicular flow data collected as part of the relevant traffic impact assessment for reference, and urged TD continue working with DSD to follow-up on lifting the ban on left turn movements from Choi Hung Road onto Tseuk Luk Street.

Parking Spaces in San Po Kong

6. Members pointed out that various office and industrial buildings in San Po Kong would be completed and ready for occupation in succession, whereas the temporary parking lot at the junction of Sam Chuk Street, Tsat Po Street and King Fuk Street would be redeveloped as the Holistic Centre for Youth Development (HCYD), which would lead to a shortage of parking spaces in the area. Members requested TD to take note of the suggestion of deploying vacant school premises or the site vacated by the removal of Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) for the provision of more parking spaces, and to scout for suitable locations for street parking spaces in the area in due course.

Suggestions for Improvement on Traffic Conditions on King Fuk Street and Shung Ling Street

7. Members expressed concern over rampant illegal parking on Shung Ling Street and King Fuk Street, while vehicle-pedestrian conflicts often occurred at the pedestrian crossing on King Fuk Street near the Mall. Members urged the Police to take vigorous law enforcement actions, and requested TD to study potential traffic improvement measures, such as the addition of lay-bys, relocation of the pedestrian crossing and so on.

8. Wong Tai Sin District Council Secretariat had arranged a joint on-site inspection by Members and representatives of TD of Shung Ling Street and King Fuk Street on 4 August 2016, and study the implementation of various traffic improvement measures to improve the situation conditions there. TD was in the process of consolidating Members’ views, and would later report back to the Working Group on the proposed traffic improvement measures to be implemented.

5(6)_DCPR[WG-TPSPK](1)(66-2016)-e 2 Suggestions for Improvement on Traffic Conditions at the Junction of Choi Hung Road and Yin Hing Street

9. Members conveyed that some vehicles on the section of Choi Hung Road southbound near New Lai King Building would turn left at relatively high speed, increasing the risk of traffic accidents at that particular junction. TD had arranged with HyD to undergo road narrowing works at the junction of Choi Hung Road and Yin Hing Road, and would erect appropriate traffic signage in the hope of improving the situation. HyD was currently scheduling the works and applying for an excavation permit, with the construction projected to commence in the first quarter of 2017.

Wong Tai Sin Council Secretariat Ref. No: HAD WTSDC 13-35/5/35 September 2016

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