User friendly: A redesigned Transport Department homepage will launch tomorrow, reinforcing channels in traffic and transport information dissemination.

A redesigned Transport Department homepage will launch tomorrow, with a new website address, www.td.gov.hk. The new site will reinforce channels in traffic and transport information dissemination.

Assistant Commissioner for Transport Anthony Loo today said the new homepage will offer real-time traffic information, on-line services, application forms by category, and special information for different road users that is re-organised for more direct, quicker access.

The department will use the homepage as a platform to disseminate traffic and transport information. For example, it will provide details of transport arrangements and services for Disneyland upon the theme park's opening.

Urgent info dissemination

When there is a serious incident such as a traffic accident causing road closures or traffic diversions, a blinking "Special Traffic News" banner will be activated on the as an eye-catching alert to inform people of the latest developments.

The new site will show real-time traffic images from 117 CCTV cameras. The Journey Time Indication System can advise motorists of the journey time from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon for the different cross-harbour routes so they can make an informed choice before the diverging points.

"The department is introducing a pilot scheme. In addition to showing the length of traffic queues on major roads leading to the Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnels on Hong Kong Island, we will also show average traffic speed by different colours," Mr Loo said.

"This information, updated every five minutes, will be added to the new homepage from tomorrow. The pilot scheme will firstly cover roads for harbour crossing on Island north."

PDA version available

A PDA version with special traffic news, transport services and tunnel traffic conditions, also launching tomorrow, will be available at http://pda.td.gov.hk for wireless connection to the website for information browsing.

Mr Loo said the department has planned to expand the present coverage of its 540 CCTV cameras to include more major roads, including road sections in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, to minimise blind spots.

The department is also planning to expand the Journey Time Indication System's coverage to include Island-bound roads in Kowloon. Adding information on traffic speed for major roads in Kowloon to the website is also being considered.