The Third Comprehensive Transport Study (CTS-3) was the third of a series of transport planning studies carried out by HKSAR Government to develop a balanced transport plan for Hong Kong well into the 21st century. Previous studies were commissioned in 1973 and 1986.
The overall objective of CTS-3 was to provide a framework on which the Government can develop a balanced strategy to facilitate the mobility of people and goods of Hong Kong in an environmentally sustainable manner up to 2016. CTS-3 examined traffic situations for different scenarios of land use and socio-economic assumptions, recommended future expansion of rail and road systems and mapped out a programme for implementing road projects costing over HK$200 Billion for satisfying future travel demand of the people and freight movements in Hong Kong. In CTS-3, strategic environmental assessment was carried out to evaluate the environmental benefits and disbenefits of different options of transport development and landuse.
CTS-3 adopted the following guiding principles on transport policy and planning that formed the bases for formulating the transport strategy "Hong Kong Moving Ahead: A Transport Strategy for the Future" promulgated by the then Transport Bureau in 1999:
- Integrating land-use, transport and environmental planning;
- According priority to railways;
- Co-ordinating and enhancing public transport services;
- Providing transport infrastructure in a more timely fashion;
- Managing transport with new technologies;
- Giving more emphasis to pedestrian needs; and
- Alleviating the environmental impact of transport.
